Caught in the Whirlwind

Torture and Denial of Due Process by the Kurdistan Security Forces

I. Summary

Key recommendations

II. Methodology

III. Background

IV. Legal Framework

V. The Kurdish Security Forces (Asayish

VI. Asayish Violations of Due Process

Alleged US involvement in transfers to Asayish custody

VII. Torture and Ill-treatment of Detainees, and Poor Conditions

Impunity for torture and ill-treatment

VIII. Denial of Family Visits

IX. Prospects of Improvement

X. Recommendations

To the Kurdistan Regional Government

On Arbitrary Arrest and Detention

On Torture and Other Ill-treatment

On Providing Greater Access and Transparency

On Meeting International Standards

To the government of the United States and other Multinational Force governments

To the international donor community

XI. Acknowledgements