Expressing deep concern over the treatment of US soldier and whistleblower Bradley Manning in custody, GUE/NGL MEPs today co-signed a letter with over 50 representatives from all major European parliamentary groups addressed to US authorities, including President Obama.

Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq on suspicion of having passed restricted material pertaining to possible US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan to the website Wikileaks and concerns have been raised about alleged human rights violations against him.

"I am alarmed that the U.S. army has accused Bradley Manning with 'aiding the enemy' - this is a crime punishable by death. Also, reports that he has been subjected to solitary confinement for long periods and other forms of ill-treatment and torture are deeply troubling. US authorities must accept the request of the UN Rapporteur on torture for a private meeting with Mr. Manning" said Portuguese MEP Marisa Matias at a press conference on the issue today in parliament.

The text of the letter is available here.

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu