WASHINGTON, D.C. In response to reports that a German court has issued a warrant for the arrest of 13 CIA agents for their role in allegedly kidnapping and torturing a German citizen, Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) renewed his call for an end to the practice called extraordinary rendition.  Rep. Markey is senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and author the “Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act."

“Today’s case sheds more light on the ugly U.S. practice of extraordinary rendition. Germany now joins Italy, and Sweden in investigating extra-legal actions by the United States on the streets of sovereign allies.  In Italy indictments have been issued against 25 CIA agents for the kidnapping and transfer of a man to Egypt. President Bush needs to put an end to the practice of outsourcing of torture, his defense of this illegal practice jeopardizes U.S. officials who are now caught in the middle of an international kidnapping scandal.”  Rep. Markey noted, “The War on Terror must be won, but it will not be won by scooping up innocent foreign citizens and sending them to secret prisons around the world. This is an outrageous practice.”

Just last week, the Canadian Government issued a formal apology and paid $10 million in restitution for their involvement in the rendition by the U.S. of one of their citizens, Maher Arar, to Syria, where he was tortured.

 “This Administration’s rogue kidnapping efforts are now being questioned by some of our closest allies in the war on terror.  This practice of rendition will only impede our fight against terrorism and alienate our allies,” said Rep. Markey.

For more on Rep. Markey’s work on outsourcing torture, please go to http://markey.house.gov