Detention of family of testifiers

The family and friends of prisoners have been tortured or threatened with torture. Children are tortured as are parents. Family members are tortured to force wanted persons to give up. Torture of friends is used to extract confessions. Wives and daughters are raped in front of relatives. In some cases tortured prisoners are shown to their families so that the families would persuade the prisoners to confess to avoid further torture.

Torture or threats of torture of the family or friends of prisoners has been reported in the following countries: Africa - Mali, South Africa. America - Colombia, Peru, Uruguay. Asia - India, Iran, Islamic Rep, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syrian AR. Europe - Yugoslavia.