AFGHAN VIDEOCONFERENCING

FOR DETAINEES AND FAMILIES

Red Cross officials in Kabul say suspects detained by U.S. troops in Afghanistan are now allowed to speak with family members through a new video-teleconferencing system.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the US government have jointly set up a video-telecommunications system in Kabul which allows over 600 prisoners currently held by US forces to make a 20-minute live video-call to their relatives, the ICRC said in a press release. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross helped organize the initiative, which is the first of its kind.  The system was designed specifically for the US Military by Florida based Strike Industries, a leading supplier of inmate video visitation systems.

Since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida suspects have been detained, along with others accused of terrorist activities.

Ghulam Mohamed, right, an Afghan man, speaks to his detained brother as his niece Shafiqa looks at her father shown in the monitor during a video teleconference at the International Committee of the Red Cross Office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. Families of prisoners held at the U.S. military base at Bagram have spoken with their imprisoned relatives for the first time after the military and Red Cross launched a system of video-teleconference calls, the Red Cross announced Monday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Using equipment supplied by Strike Industries to the US military authorities, the ICRC has set up a call center on the premises of its delegation in Kabul. A similar center has been created at Bagram AFB for the use of detainees. In the first three days since the launch of the program, which is open to all families of persons detained at Bagram, over 60 families from around the country were able to see and speak for 20 minutes to their loved ones over the new video link.  Many families have not spoken to their detained relatives for several years.  Around 600 detainees are being held at the facility.

Mohsen Agha, left, speaks to his detained relative as Nour Ahmad Agha looks at the screen during a video teleconference at the International Committee of the Red Cross Office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. Families of prisoners held at the U.S. military base at Bagram have spoken with their imprisoned relatives for the first time after the military and Red Cross launched a system of video-teleconference calls, the Red Cross announced Monday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

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