Portugal has permitted use of its airspace and airports for flights associated with CIA extraordinary rendition operations.1377
A 2006 Council of Europe report found that Portugal, among other countries, was used for “stopovers” for flights involving the unlawful transfer of detainees.1378 A February 2007 European Parliament report further noted that CIA planes associated with extraordinary renditions made 91 stopovers in Portugal, that “the aircraft involved in the rendition of Maher Arar and Abou Elkassim Britel made stopovers in Portugal on their return flights,” and that “aircraft from a number of countries, travelling to or from Guantánamo, made 17 stopovers (including three contained in Eurocontrol lists) at the Portuguese airports of Lajes and Santa Maria between 11 January 2002 and 24 June 2006.”1379 The European Parliament report“ask[ed] the Portuguese authorities to investigate the case of Abdurahman Khadr allegedly carried on board the Gulfstream IV N85VM from Guantánamo to Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 6 November 2003, with a stopover in Santa Mariaon the Azores Islands on 7 November 2003. The NGO Reprieve has identified at least 115 suspected stopovers between 2001 and 2006 by aircraft associated with the CIA.1381 It further identified at least six known extraordinary renditions of ghost prisoners that were facilitated througPortuguese jurisdiction, including those of Muhammad Farag Ahmed Bashmilah, Salah Nasser Salim Ali Qaru (Marwan al-Adeni), Hassan bin Attash, Maher Arar, Abou Elkassim Britel, and unidentified ghost prisoners extraordinarily renderedthrough the island of Diego Garcia.1382 Documents filed in connection with a lawsuit against Jeppesen Dataplan (a company that provided logistical support for CIA extraordinary rendition flights) also show that Portugal allowed use of its airports and airspace for extraordinary rendition flights operated by the CIA.1383 In addition, during 2003 and 2004, Portugal also allowed use of its airports and airspace for at least five flights operated by Richmor Aviation, a company that operated CIA extraordinary rendition flights.1384 These include flight N85VM that stopped in Santa Maria Azores at some point between November 6 and 7, 2003; N982RK that stopped in Santa Maria Azores between July 15 and 19, 2004; N85VM that stopped in Santa Maria Azores between July 25 and 29, 2004; N85VM that stopped in Santa Maria Azores between July 30 and August 3, 2004; and N70HS that stopped in Santa Maria between November 9 and 12, 2004.
A 2006 Council of Europe report found that Portugal, among other countries, was used for “stopovers” for flights involving the unlawful transfer of detainees.1378 A February 2007 European Parliament report further noted that CIA planes associated with extraordinary renditions made 91 stopovers in Portugal, that “the aircraft involved in the rendition of Maher Arar and Abou Elkassim Britel made stopovers in Portugal on their return flights,” and that “aircraft from a number of countries, travelling to or from Guantánamo, made 17 stopovers (including three contained in Eurocontrol lists) at the Portuguese airports of Lajes and Santa Maria between 11 January 2002 and 24 June 2006.”1379 The European Parliament report“ask[ed] the Portuguese authorities to investigate the case of Abdurahman Khadr allegedly carried on board the Gulfstream IV N85VM from Guantánamo to Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 6 November 2003, with a stopover in Santa Mariaon the Azores Islands on 7 November 2003. The NGO Reprieve has identified at least 115 suspected stopovers between 2001 and 2006 by aircraft associated with the CIA.1381 It further identified at least six known extraordinary renditions of ghost prisoners that were facilitated througPortuguese jurisdiction, including those of Muhammad Farag Ahmed Bashmilah, Salah Nasser Salim Ali Qaru (Marwan al-Adeni), Hassan bin Attash, Maher Arar, Abou Elkassim Britel, and unidentified ghost prisoners extraordinarily renderedthrough the island of Diego Garcia.1382 Documents filed in connection with a lawsuit against Jeppesen Dataplan (a company that provided logistical support for CIA extraordinary rendition flights) also show that Portugal allowed use of its airports and airspace for extraordinary rendition flights operated by the CIA.1383 In addition, during 2003 and 2004, Portugal also allowed use of its airports and airspace for at least five flights operated by Richmor Aviation, a company that operated CIA extraordinary rendition flights.1384 These include flight N85VM that stopped in Santa Maria Azores at some point between November 6 and 7, 2003; N982RK that stopped in Santa Maria Azores between July 15 and 19, 2004; N85VM that stopped in Santa Maria Azores between July 25 and 29, 2004; N85VM that stopped in Santa Maria Azores between July 30 and August 3, 2004; and N70HS that stopped in Santa Maria between November 9 and 12, 2004.
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