WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, Congressman Bill Delahunt, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight will hold another in a series of hearings and briefings that examine the use of diplomatic assurances in renditions.  

Delahunt’s panel has previously heard testimony on the specific case of Maher Arar, a Canadian of Syrian origin who was stopped at JFK Airport and on the basis of assurances that he would not be tortured, was sent to Syria. Mr. Arar was subsequently tortured during his one year detention there.  A newly released report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General raises fresh questions about the sufficiency of those assurances. To read more, please click here.

Tomorrow’s hearing, entitled “Diplomatic Assurances and Rendition to Torture,” will provide an opportunity for Members to question the State Department’s Legal Adviser on how diplomatic assurances are obtained.  The Subcommittee will also seek to obtain information on how the Department determines the sufficiency of such assurances, whether in the context of rendition, extradition or the return of Guantanamo detaineese.

WHO:  House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight

WHERE:  Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building

DATE:      Tuesday June 10, 2008

TIME:      2:00 PM

SUBJECT:  Diplomatic Assurances and Rendition to Torture- The Perspective of the State Department's Legal Adviser

WITNESSES:

The Honorable John B. Bellinger, III

Legal Adviser

US Department of State

 

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