British Sailors Bound Blindfolded

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Friday April 06, 2007 20:19 by El Greco

The Royal Navy crew have been giving a press conference
Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.
They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", one of the 15 freed sailors revealed.

The crew were told that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.

And after their capture the 15 marines and sailors were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure, they said.

Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, explained why they had not fought back when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation.

"We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television.

"Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very
apparent that fighting back was simply not an option". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6533069.stm