British, Greek Intelligence Agents Accused of Torture
Jim Kouri, CPP
December 31, 2005
With the United States being harangued by liberal-left organizations throughout the world over allegations of "secret CIA prisons" and torture, it now appears that it will be Britain's turn to become the recipent of torture allegations. And wouldn't you know it? A newspaper story is the instrument by which these allegations are gaining traction.
According to a report appearing in Scottish newspaper The Scotsman, several Greek and British intelligence agents may be subpoenaed to appear in court in Greece to testify in a lawsuit alleging that almost 30 Pakistanis were abducted, transported to Greece, and were beaten and tortured. It's alleged that this occurred right after the July terrorist bombings in London.
Frangiskos Ragoussis, a lawyer representing the Pakistani plaintiffs, claims his clients were illegally taken from their homes and interrogated by Greek and British agents for several days. He told the news media that he had filed a lawsuit against the intelligence agents he believes were involved in the operation.
A number of intelligence officers, including a British agent, were named in an article in a Greek newspaper over the Christmas weekend as those responsible for the covert operation, but neither the newspaper nor the accusers' attorney stated how they knew this information. It's believed most of the information they are releasing was provided by the Pakistanis who were not named, as well.
"I have sued everyone today named in that story as being part of the interrogation process and I have sued them for kidnapping and torture," Mr Ragoussis told reporters during a press conference in Greece. However, critics are not certain a case based on a newspaper report -- that came from the Pakistanis lawyer to begin with -- is sufficient evidence to move the lawsuit forward.
While the Greek government may cooperate with the the plaintiffs' attorney, the British agent or agents probably will not.
The Pakistanis claim they were kidnapped, had hoods placed over their heads, and then they were transported to a secret location near Athens. While there they said, through their attorney, they were beaten and questioned for about a week by Greek agents and at least two British officers.
The Greek government and their secret National Intelligence Agency (EYP) have denied the allegations. However, they have been compelled to order two agents operating in Kosovo --who were named in the newspaper story -- to return to Greece.
The Greek intelligence agency accused the newspaper of compromising security operations by printing the names of 15 Greek officers and said the allegations were "completely unfounded". Sources observing the case say that this is nothing more than the news media running with a story based on allegations leveled by suspected terrorists or terrorist associates.
The plaintiffs attorney said he wants the agents to appear in court in front of his clients so they can identify them. But this on its face would be unconstitutional in the United States since the ID would be tainted. In the US, the accusers would have to pick out their alleged torturers from either a sequential photo ID process, or the standard police lineup.
The case first surfaced weeks after the suicide bomb attacks in London last July which left over 50 people dead. The opposition party -- taking a page from the US Democrat Party handbook -- has demanded government officials to appear before the Greek parliament to answer questions regarding allegations made by a newspaper and an attorney.
As with similar situations in the US, national security is being compromised in Greece for political reasons. Should the agents be forced to testify, they will reveal top secret sources and methods not only to the court, but also to the world, which includes terrorist cells operating in Pakistan.
According to a report appearing in Scottish newspaper The Scotsman, several Greek and British intelligence agents may be subpoenaed to appear in court in Greece to testify in a lawsuit alleging that almost 30 Pakistanis were abducted, transported to Greece, and were beaten and tortured. It's alleged that this occurred right after the July terrorist bombings in London.
Frangiskos Ragoussis, a lawyer representing the Pakistani plaintiffs, claims his clients were illegally taken from their homes and interrogated by Greek and British agents for several days. He told the news media that he had filed a lawsuit against the intelligence agents he believes were involved in the operation.
A number of intelligence officers, including a British agent, were named in an article in a Greek newspaper over the Christmas weekend as those responsible for the covert operation, but neither the newspaper nor the accusers' attorney stated how they knew this information. It's believed most of the information they are releasing was provided by the Pakistanis who were not named, as well.
"I have sued everyone today named in that story as being part of the interrogation process and I have sued them for kidnapping and torture," Mr Ragoussis told reporters during a press conference in Greece. However, critics are not certain a case based on a newspaper report -- that came from the Pakistanis lawyer to begin with -- is sufficient evidence to move the lawsuit forward.
While the Greek government may cooperate with the the plaintiffs' attorney, the British agent or agents probably will not.
The Pakistanis claim they were kidnapped, had hoods placed over their heads, and then they were transported to a secret location near Athens. While there they said, through their attorney, they were beaten and questioned for about a week by Greek agents and at least two British officers.
The Greek government and their secret National Intelligence Agency (EYP) have denied the allegations. However, they have been compelled to order two agents operating in Kosovo --who were named in the newspaper story -- to return to Greece.
The Greek intelligence agency accused the newspaper of compromising security operations by printing the names of 15 Greek officers and said the allegations were "completely unfounded". Sources observing the case say that this is nothing more than the news media running with a story based on allegations leveled by suspected terrorists or terrorist associates.
The plaintiffs attorney said he wants the agents to appear in court in front of his clients so they can identify them. But this on its face would be unconstitutional in the United States since the ID would be tainted. In the US, the accusers would have to pick out their alleged torturers from either a sequential photo ID process, or the standard police lineup.
The case first surfaced weeks after the suicide bomb attacks in London last July which left over 50 people dead. The opposition party -- taking a page from the US Democrat Party handbook -- has demanded government officials to appear before the Greek parliament to answer questions regarding allegations made by a newspaper and an attorney.
As with similar situations in the US, national security is being compromised in Greece for political reasons. Should the agents be forced to testify, they will reveal top secret sources and methods not only to the court, but also to the world, which includes terrorist cells operating in Pakistan.
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