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I see some idiots are praising the commies. Let's see them defend this:
Source: Refworld | Afghanistan - Security Services in Communist Afghanistan (1978-1992). AGSA, KAM, KhAD and WAD
Heavy punches to a suspect's body and face constituted a simple yet effective means of extracting
a confession. Punches were often so heavy and lasted for so long that the suspect would lose
consciousness. After coming round, the punishment would be repeated as necessary. As well as
bare fists, KhAD and WAD agents would use objects such as bottles, sticks, whips, rifle butts,
metal rods and electric flexes. In some instances the suspect would be suspended from a rotating
fan during such punishment. Sometimes the suspect's body would be worked over with knives,
pieces of glass or other sharp objects. Another method of forcing a suspect to talk was to give him
the hot-iron treatment or mutilate his lips with a lighted cigarette. There were also cases in which a
suspect was forced to place his penis and testicles on a table, whereupon another table would be
placed upside down on top. One or more of the interrogators would then jump up and down on the
table.
As part of the severe ill-treatment meted out to a suspect, KhAD or WAD agents might decide to
deliberately break his fingers, toes, arms, legs, ribs or nose. In some cases they would cut off one or
both of his ears. Extraction of one or more of the suspect's fingernails was another frequent form of
torture practised by the KhAD and the WAD.
Many suspects were given electric shocks during their interrogations. The wires would be attached
to such parts of the suspect's body as the tongue, testicles, nipples or between the toes or fingers. In
some cases electric shocks would be administered with the aid of equipment specially designed for
such a type of torture. Some survivors of such torture report the use of something resembling a
headphone which – as its description implies – was attached to the head, while others refer to a kind
of telephone booth from which the voltage could apparently be controlled. Sometimes the effect of
the electric shocks would be intensified by pouring water over the suspect.
Suspects would also be forced to step into basins of water through which an electric current would be passed.
Another form of torture during interrogation would consist of repeatedly immersing the suspect's
head in a bowl of water, thereby bringing him close to drowning again and again. In other cases a
suspect's penis would be tied tightly with a length of string and he would then be forced to drink
large quantities of water; he would be permitted to urinate only when he had made a confession.
Other suspects were given petrol to drink. Some individuals witnessed prisoners being torn to
pieces. 40 The rape of both male and female suspects was another very common form of torture.
Sometimes women would be raped with their husbands present.
Political prisoners would also be tortured in their cells. One of the most common methods of
torture was sleep-deprivation – a torture which might sometimes last for well over ten days. Some
suspects were kept isolated in dark cells for long periods of time, while others shared their cells
with many fellow prisoners. The cells would sometimes be swarming with rats and often lacked
any form of sanitation or heating. Some suspects would be suspended for long periods either
upright or upside down from hooks attached to the ceiling of their cells for that purpose. In some
cases the corpse of a fellow prisoner would be placed in a cell containing one or more prisoners.
Suspects would sometimes be deprived of food and water for long periods. They might also be
forced to stand – possibly naked – in the burning sun or bitter cold for long periods. KhAD and
WAD agents would also use psychological methods of torture. For example, some suspects would
be told that members of their family had been murdered.
Thousands of suspects were tortured to death by KhAD and WAD agents. If the KhAD or WAD
thought that a suspect was guilty, they could kill him or her without further investigation or judicial
intervention. The agents concerned did not have to account for their actions in any way; the KhAD
and the WAD were above the law. The Special Revolutionary Court and the Revolutionary Public
Prosecutor were controlled by the KhAD and the WAD. Many suspects were sentenced to
imprisonment or the death penalty on the basis of information obtained under torture. Suspects
were not entitled to a lawyer, nor could they appeal against the judge's decision.
Source: Refworld | Afghanistan - Security Services in Communist Afghanistan (1978-1992). AGSA, KAM, KhAD and WAD
Heavy punches to a suspect's body and face constituted a simple yet effective means of extracting
a confession. Punches were often so heavy and lasted for so long that the suspect would lose
consciousness. After coming round, the punishment would be repeated as necessary. As well as
bare fists, KhAD and WAD agents would use objects such as bottles, sticks, whips, rifle butts,
metal rods and electric flexes. In some instances the suspect would be suspended from a rotating
fan during such punishment. Sometimes the suspect's body would be worked over with knives,
pieces of glass or other sharp objects. Another method of forcing a suspect to talk was to give him
the hot-iron treatment or mutilate his lips with a lighted cigarette. There were also cases in which a
suspect was forced to place his penis and testicles on a table, whereupon another table would be
placed upside down on top. One or more of the interrogators would then jump up and down on the
table.
As part of the severe ill-treatment meted out to a suspect, KhAD or WAD agents might decide to
deliberately break his fingers, toes, arms, legs, ribs or nose. In some cases they would cut off one or
both of his ears. Extraction of one or more of the suspect's fingernails was another frequent form of
torture practised by the KhAD and the WAD.
Many suspects were given electric shocks during their interrogations. The wires would be attached
to such parts of the suspect's body as the tongue, testicles, nipples or between the toes or fingers. In
some cases electric shocks would be administered with the aid of equipment specially designed for
such a type of torture. Some survivors of such torture report the use of something resembling a
headphone which – as its description implies – was attached to the head, while others refer to a kind
of telephone booth from which the voltage could apparently be controlled. Sometimes the effect of
the electric shocks would be intensified by pouring water over the suspect.
Suspects would also be forced to step into basins of water through which an electric current would be passed.
Another form of torture during interrogation would consist of repeatedly immersing the suspect's
head in a bowl of water, thereby bringing him close to drowning again and again. In other cases a
suspect's penis would be tied tightly with a length of string and he would then be forced to drink
large quantities of water; he would be permitted to urinate only when he had made a confession.
Other suspects were given petrol to drink. Some individuals witnessed prisoners being torn to
pieces. 40 The rape of both male and female suspects was another very common form of torture.
Sometimes women would be raped with their husbands present.
Political prisoners would also be tortured in their cells. One of the most common methods of
torture was sleep-deprivation – a torture which might sometimes last for well over ten days. Some
suspects were kept isolated in dark cells for long periods of time, while others shared their cells
with many fellow prisoners. The cells would sometimes be swarming with rats and often lacked
any form of sanitation or heating. Some suspects would be suspended for long periods either
upright or upside down from hooks attached to the ceiling of their cells for that purpose. In some
cases the corpse of a fellow prisoner would be placed in a cell containing one or more prisoners.
Suspects would sometimes be deprived of food and water for long periods. They might also be
forced to stand – possibly naked – in the burning sun or bitter cold for long periods. KhAD and
WAD agents would also use psychological methods of torture. For example, some suspects would
be told that members of their family had been murdered.
Thousands of suspects were tortured to death by KhAD and WAD agents. If the KhAD or WAD
thought that a suspect was guilty, they could kill him or her without further investigation or judicial
intervention. The agents concerned did not have to account for their actions in any way; the KhAD
and the WAD were above the law. The Special Revolutionary Court and the Revolutionary Public
Prosecutor were controlled by the KhAD and the WAD. Many suspects were sentenced to
imprisonment or the death penalty on the basis of information obtained under torture. Suspects
were not entitled to a lawyer, nor could they appeal against the judge's decision.
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