Lawyer Says Hicks Chained To Cell Floor

Courtesy Of: ABC News OnLine
Last Update: Tuesday, January 30, 2007.
5:14pm (AEDT)

The Australian lawyer for Guantanamo detainee David Hicks says his client is chained to the floor of his cell and has not seen sunlight for months.

David McLeod says it was extremely confronting to see how much Mr Hicks's condition has worsened since the last time he saw him last year.

Mr Hicks has now been detained for more than five years by the United States military; he was charged previously but those charges were dropped when the military commission set up to try the detainees was abolished.

Mr McLeod told ABC radio's PM program that Mr Hicks was chained to the floor of the cell where he is kept for 22 hours a day, and was clearly despairing of his situation.

"His visage was an extremely sorrowful one," he said.

"It took us some time to discuss the matters that had occurred in Australia with him, and to convince ourselves that he was in a position to understand what we were imparting to him."

..."He continues to be locked up for 22 hours per day," he said.

"He tells me that he's only seen the sun three times since the beginning of December last year when he was moved."

"Mr Ruddock cannot continue sit on his hands while the evidence mounts of improper treatment of David Hicks and of his deteriorating physical and mental condition,"

Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1836552.htm