A leading anti-torture group has called on Swiss authorities to open an investigation into former US President George W. Bush if he sets foot on Swiss soil next week.

"/> A leading anti-torture group has called on Swiss authorities to open an investigation into former US President George W. Bush if he sets foot on Swiss soil next week.

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TORTURE

Swiss government told to launch Bush probe

A leading anti-torture group has called on Swiss authorities to open an investigation into former US President George W. Bush if he sets foot on Swiss soil next week.

Published: 4 February 2011 12:25 CET

The rights group World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has called on Swiss authorities to open an investigation into former US President George W. Bush if he sets foot on Swiss soil next week.
 

Bush has reportedly been invited to a fund-raising gala evening by a Jewish organisation on February 12 in the Swiss city of Geneva, prompting an outcry by several groups about the use of “torture” during interrogations of US “War on Terror” detainees.
 

The Geneva-based OMCT on Thursday released a letter it sent to Swiss President and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey to underline Switzerland’s obligation under domestic law and the UN Convention Against Torture to investigate such allegations.
 

“This would have to include also former President G (W) Bush who had the overall control as commander in chief and as all information suggests authorised, knew and acquiesced into the practices that constitute the crime of torture,” the letter said.
 

It outlined an “overhwelming” body of evidence relating to the use of a “wide array of physical and psychological abuse” including “water boarding” and sleep deprivation, as well as “recent admissions” in Bush’s memoirs.
 

The former US commander-in-chief claimed in his memoirs published last year that use of the water boarding technique – which simulates drowning – had directly prevented terrorist attacks in Britain and the United States.
 

Bush also said in an interview with the British newspaper The Times it was “damn right” that he had authorised use of the controversial method on Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
 

 “There are no laws that provide an exception for former head of states,” OMCT Secretary General Eric Sottas said in a statement.  


“There is not the slightest doubt that Switzerland is obliged under both international law and its domestic law to initiate an investigation for acts
of torture against any individual present on its territory that has committed, authorised, participated in or was otherwise complicit in acts of torture,” he added.
 

The United Nations convention covers “torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. Both Switzerland and the United States have ratified the pact.
 

Several mainly left wing groups have called for demonstrations on February 12.

For members

TRAVEL

US reclassifies Switzerland: What does it mean for American travellers?

America’s public health agency eased travel alerts for dozens of countries this week, including Switzerland. But does it mean that people from the United States can now travel here?

Published: 11 June 2021 11:37 CEST
US reclassifies Switzerland: What does it mean for American travellers?
Not yet, but hopefully soon. Photo by Jan Rosolino / Unsplash

Switzerland in early June announced vaccinated travellers would be able to come on June 28th. Therefore, this story is now out of date. Please click here for more information. 

Due to massive vaccination efforts around the world, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lowered travel warning levels  for more than 110 countries and destinations, including Switzerland.

From the highest level four previously, which means all travel is discouraged, Switzerland was ‘promoted’ to Level 3, allowing travel for fully vaccinated individuals.

In total, 14 countries, including Switzerland’s neighbours France and Italy, have been reclassified to a lower level.

Does this mean American tourists can now come to Switzerland?

Even though the CDC has cleared travel for vaccinated US residents, it doesn’t mean they are now allowed to enter Switzerland.

For the time being, travel ban is still in place for most third countries, including the United States. The only exceptions are Swiss citizens or permanent residents returning to Switzerland.

READ MORE: When will Americans be allowed to travel to Switzerland again —and vice-versa?

There are some other exemptions as well, including people whose presence in Switzerland is absolutely necessary to maintain the functioning of the healthcare system or public security and order, death of a close family member in Switzerland, and to continue essential medical treatment that began in Switzerland or abroad.

Each of these conditions must be proven with official documentation.

For other ‘special necessity’ rules, see SEM’s page.

Basically, this means that tourists or other random travellers can’t come to Switzerland at the moment.

There are, however, some promising signs that this restriction may be lifted.

Swiss president Guy Parmelin is scheduled to meet with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, on June 15th. Biden will be in Geneva for high-level talks with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. 

It is not known what Switzerland and the United States will discuss at the meeting, beyond matters of importance to both nations, but there is a possibility that the subject of easing travel restrictions on both sides will be raised.

Also, under France’s new traffic light travel system, fully-vaccinated travellers can now enter France from non-EU countries, including the US.

This does not apply to Switzerland yet, but as the two countries share a border and both are part of the Schengen zone, Swiss entry regulations for US tourists might be relaxed in the near future — though not at this time.

Does this mean US residents can ‘slip’ into Switzerland through France?

Borders between the two countries are pretty porous and checks random at best, but if you attempt to get into Switzerland this way, you’d be breaking the law.

The only US citizens who can come into Switzerland legally right now are those residing in the EU/EFTA states, or one of the third nations deemed safe by public health officials:  Australia, New Zealand, Cyprus, Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

In other words, it’s not the nationality of a traveller that counts but their place of residence.

What about Swiss citizens going on vacation to the United States?

The US still has a ban in place for tourists from the EU, including Switzerland. It also has similar exceptions — that is, US citizens and permanent residents returning from abroad.

The US is forming expert groups to decide when to lift global travel restrictions that have been in place since March 2020.

However, this will probably take time and, despite mounting pressure from the travel industry and airlines, US-bound travel may not be on the horizon for this summer.

READ MORE: How to get Switzerland’s Covid-19 health pass

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