DOCUMENT: Crime

Ashcroft Sued Over Prisoners Rights

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Ashcroft Sued Over Prisoners Rights

 

A group of attorneys has filed a class action suit against U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI director Robert Mueller, and other federal officials, complaining that since September 11th the government has violated the civil rights of hundreds of Middle Eastern men who have been imprisoned on immigration violations. This complaint, filed today (4/17) in U.S. District Court, argues that some detainees have been imprisoned "in tiny, windowless cells for over 23 hours a day...Many class members have suffered physical and verbal abuse by their guards. Some were badly beaten." Among other allegations: prisoners are subject to cavity searches, lights are kept on to prevent them from sleeping and they are only given two pieces of toilet paper per day. (12 pages)