European court considering probes into CIA rendition practices News
European court considering probes into CIA rendition practices

[JURIST] Courts in Spain, Italy and Germany are considering inquiries into CIA operations in Europe, specifically its rendition program, where suspected terrorists are kidnapped and sent to countries that will torture them. The Spanish investigation began in March when a Majorcan newspaper reported that CIA planes were visiting the island's international airport [Diaro de Mallorca report, in Spanish]. A Spanish national court will now examine [La Voz report, in Spanish; UK Press Association report] whether those planes were used in the rendition of suspected terrorists. In Italy, Justice Minister Roberto Castelli is considering a prosecutor's request for the extradition of 22 CIA operatives [JURIST report] accused of kidnapping Egyptian Abu Omar in Milan and sending him to Egypt, where he was reportedly tortured. German prosecutor Eberhard Bayer is pursuing a separate investigation into the kidnapping of Omar. The European Parliament will also debate the reports of secret CIA prisons [BBC report] in Europe on Monday. EUObserver has more. Corriere della Sera has coverage in Italian and Zweibruecken has coverage in German.