Archival Rescue 45 ~ Outsourced torture

Tortured suspect had ASIO checks
By Marian Wilkinson National Security Editor May 26, 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

An Australian citizen who claimed in a Kuwaiti court his fingernails were ripped out under torture by Kuwaiti police was investigated more than a year ago by ASIO in Sydney, according to his brother.

Tllaal Adrey appeared in a Kuwaiti court for the first time since his arrest by Kuwaiti State Security in February and asked to see officials from the Australian embassy in Kuwait.

"They pulled out my fingernails at State Security," Adrey told the court before he was charged as part of a terrorist group, the Lions of the Peninsula, which allegedly planned the deaths of several Kuwaiti security officials. Details of the specific charge against Adrey were pending last night.

The Australian Government has repeatedly said it attempted to gain access to Adrey more than 16 times since his arrest. But his brother, Fahed al-Saad, speaking through a family friend told the Herald the Australian Government knew a lot more about the case and revealed that ASIO had first questioned him about his brother almost two years ago, after Adrey returned to Kuwait.

According to Mr Saad's account, ASIO took an interest in him and his brother when a member of their Bidoon community in south-west Sydney established a radical website. The Bidoons are a minority in Kuwait deemed stateless by the Kuwaiti government.

A group of Bidoons were granted refugee status in Australia after the first Gulf War, including Adrey and his brother.

Mr Saad believes ASIO questioned other Bidoons about his brother in the past few months, according to their spokesman and friend, Ali Hamdy.

Yesterday, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, declined to confirm or deny any investigation by ASIO. However, when asked whether any information from ASIO was passed to the Kuwaiti authorities on Adrey, his office said Mr Ruddock wanted to make it clear the Australian Government did not condone torture for any reason and that "we would not be putting Australian citizens in a position where that activity is likely to be carried out".

Mr Ruddock's office also said ASIO had no contact with Adrey. No Australian official attended Adrey's court hearing on Tuesday despite being given notice of his appearance.

But Bruce Billson, parliamentary secretary for the Foreign Affairs minister, said the Australian consul in Kuwait had been assured by Kuwaiti authorities that Adrey was "in excellent health" and had seen medical reports by prison officials.

Mr Billson said an Australian embassy official did attempt to attend the court but was unable to obtain entry. Officials will meet Adrey on Saturday. Mr Billson also said Kuwaiti Justice Ministry officials had told the acting ambassador that the case "would be a bit of a circus".

Twenty-one other men and a woman charged in the case pleaded not guilty. Adrey has repeatedly protested his innocence of the terrorism charge. All the suspects reportedly told the court they confessed under duress and four took off their shirts in the dock to show scars on their backs they claimed were the result of torture.

Islamic Friendship Association of Australia president Keysar Trad released a copy of a letter from Adrey to the Australian Mufti, Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly, asking for help.

The sheik is negotiating on behalf of Douglas Wood who is being held captive in Iraq.