In her first public statement since a top United Nations officialequated her imprisonment to torture , former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning reaffirm her pledge to stay on in jail rather than evidence before a high-minded jury enquire WikiLeaks father Julian Assange .
“ My long - stand protest to the immoral practice of discombobulate multitude in clink without charge or test , for the only purpose of forcing them to testify before a clandestine , politics - campaign investigative instrument panel , remain strong , ” Manning said in a statement obtained first by Gizmodo .
In a letter of the alphabet made public last calendar week , Nils Melzer , the U.N. particular rapporteur on torment , impeach U.S. authorities of violating the international human rights obligations of the United States by bring down on Manning “ undecided - terminated , progressively severe ” penalisation that carry out “ all the organic component of torture , or other cruel , inhuman or debasing treatment or punishment . ”
Photo: Cliff Owen (AP
https://jezebel.com/chelsea-manning-is-being-tortured-according-to-top-un-o-1840749863
Manning , 32 , has spend nearly 300 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. in an Alexandra gaol in Virginia since she was first subpoena to testify in March . She spent 28 sidereal day in solitary confinement consideration . Prosecutors say the slammer time is mean to coerce Manning into testifying . As she faces no criminal charges , her travail , by law , can not be punitory .
Manning ’s attorneys have contend that the sanctions have proven ineffective and that no amount of jailhouse time will compel her to testify .
Manning has said that she feel a moral obligation to resist bear witness before the grand panel , a secretive process closed to the public , in which not even the attorneys of those subpoenaed can be present . Immunity is also compulsory , intend grand panel attestant can not withhold testimony to avoid self - incrimination , a right afforded witnesses at trial under the Fifth Amendment .
“ almost every other effectual system in the man condemns coercive confinement , and long ago substitute secret grand jury with public hearing , ” Manning ’s affirmation reads . “ I am thrilled to see the pattern of coercive confinement address out for what it is : uncongenial with external human right standard . Regardless , even knowing I am very probable to stay in jail for an even longer time , I ’m never backing down . ”
Manning also face a day-by-day fine of $ 1,000 for each twenty-four hours she refuse to get together .
In 2013 , Juan E. Méndez , the former U.N. peculiar rapporteur on torture and other cruel , cold or debasing treatment or penalization , calledfor a prohibition on prolonged solitary confinement citing “ grave and irreparable damage ” including “ change in mentality functions ” and other harmful psychological effects , which , he say , “ can become irreversible . ”
Méndez classified “ prolonged solitary confinement ” as the “ physical and societal isolation of individuals who are circumscribe to their cellphone for 22 to 24 hour a day ” for “ any period in excess of 15 days . ”
Manning ’s lawyer , Moira Meltzer - Cohen , called Melzer ’s missive “ a legally rigorous condemnation of the practice of coercive confinement , and of Ms. Manning ’s confinement in particular . ”
“ While the United States has so far go to inhabit up to its human right obligations , I stay on hopeful that the regime will reconsider its policies in light of the UN ’s admonition , ” she say .
man was jailed in March after refusing to answer prosecutors ’ questions regarding her past association with WikiLeaks , the anti - secrecy organization plant by Assange , who is presently battling extradition to the U.S.
Assange faces an 18 - count bill of indictment , including alleged violations of the Espionage Act , for publishing grand of secret diplomatical cables and battlefield reports leaked by Manning in 2010 while serve as an Army levelheaded psychoanalyst in Iraq .
Chelsea ManningJulian AssangeWikiLeaks
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