BAGRAM, Afghanistan – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced this week that it disapproves of the way the United States runs its prison at the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, and urged for reforms.

Over 600 prisoners are held at Bagram, and the US military does not reveal who is held there or why.  Family and other public visitors are not allowed, including journalists.

The ICRC, however, has visited Bagram 120 times.  This recent announcement was made after the ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger, visited last week.

Kellenberger commended the US for following some of the ICRC’s past recommendations, such as allowing video-conference communication between prisoners and their families.  He also appreciated the founding of new “enemy combatant review boards” that will examine Afghan detainees’ cases every six months and determine whether they can be released.

Nevertheless, he urged for further reforms to expand prisoner rights and allow them to introduce outside testimony:  “This [enemy combatant review board] should also get evidence from the persons outside, … evidence which can speak in favor of those who are detained … Evidence of people who know them, so that this evidence is brought into the process.”

Over the past five years, the US has been criticized for holding prisoners in places like Bagram without charge.

Kellenberger emphasized that the prisoners in Bagram “do not know what the future brings, how long will they be there and under which conditions will they be released.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Red Cross: Change Needed at US Prison – 15 April 2008

The Jurist – Red Cross chief urges US military to allow outside evidence in Afghan detainee hearings – 14 April 2008