Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Information Minister in Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Five civilians killed and at least 29 others injured in shelling across the border with India
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: So he [Trump] decided to cut off contact. That might still change, but that’s the situation right now
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: Trump’s circle told him [Dermer] that Netanyahu was manipulating him, and there’s nothing Trump hates more than being portrayed as someone being played
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Meetings between the Israelis, Egyptians, and Qataris are all centered around the Israeli proposal, which does not guarantee an end to the war [on Gaza]
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is threatening to expand the ground offensive if Hamas rejects the proposal
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Hamas rejects the Israeli proposal, viewing it as failing to guarantee an end to the war
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is sticking to its proposal, and insists there is no alternative offer on the table for negotiation
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: The meetings between the Israelis and the Egyptians and Qataris all revolve around the Israeli proposal
The administration was clearly looking for an off-ramp for this campaign against Ansar Allah, NBC News reports, citing US official
Trump's operation against Ansar Allah cost more than $1 billion, NBC News reports, citing US official

Freed Venezuelan Alex Saab says was tortured by US

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Dec 2023 15:30
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

The US abducted Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab in 2020 with the hopes of extracting information about shipping routes that Venezuela has been using to bypass US sanctions, but that failed, even after torture.

  • x
  • Venezuelan President Maduro and Alex Saab, left, walk out the Miraflores presidential palace after a meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
    Venezuelan President Maduro and Alex Saab, left, walk out of the Miraflores presidential palace after a meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, December 20, 2023. (AP)

Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, who was liberated from US prison after his kidnapping from Cape Verde in 2020 through a prisoner exchange deal that took place in December of this year revealed, in a podcast with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, that he was tortured during his imprisonment.

"The second night (in Cape Verde) the beatings began. Almost my whole body was left bruised. They cut up my arms... they poured alcohol and water on me, they put the lamp on my face," Saab explained adding "They knocked out three of my teeth... they hit me hard."

Saab stressed that his "torture", which dragged over months, was because he would not reveal any information about the shipping routes Venezuela uses to bypass US sanctions. Saab's kidnappers had hoped to extract that information one way or another.

The torture, according to Saab, ended in October 2020 after his lawyers managed to get him a visit from an unnamed human rights group.

Saab also described the circumstances of his detention where he was being held in a "three meters by three meters" glass cell that had no food or water adding that he was given a "stretcher", in the frigid cold where he noted, "I think it was -10 degrees (Celsius), we were shivering."

Moreover, Saab explained that he and his business partner, Alvaro Pulido, were charged by the US under the pretext of operating a network that took advantage of food aid intended for the South American nation suffering from a devastated economy, despite its significant oil wealth.

Related News

Trump, Netanyahu aide held meeting before MidEast trip: Axios

US won't meddle in India-Pakistan conflict: JD Vance

Saab and his business partner Alvaro Pulido were charged in the United States with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela, where millions have fled a struggling economy despite its significant oil wealth. The allegations also suggested that Saab and Pulido had also transported $350 million out of Caracas which has been sanctioned by the US.

'Justice has triumphed': Maduro welcomes freed diplomat Alex Saab

The Venezuelan government announced on December 21 the return of Saab to his homeland after being unjustly abducted from a prison in the United States.

In a statement, the government expressed the Venezuelan people's pride in welcoming Saab back, following three and a half years of illegal detention and harsh, inhumane, and humiliating treatment in violation of the diplomat's human rights and the Vienna Convention that grants diplomatic immunity.

The government highlighted that Saab was a victim of the US government's retaliation against his exceptional international efforts to protect the social rights of all Venezuelans, despite the intensified unilateral coercive measures.

The Venezuelan government praised the courage of Saab's wife, children, and family for defending their dignity, accompanying him throughout his ordeal, and hoping for his release.

The statement also demanded the immediate and unconditional lifting of the injustice and siege imposed by the United States administration against the Venezuelan people.

Read more: US tries Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, setting dangerous precedent

  • United States
  • alex saab
  • torture
  • Venezuela
  • Nicolas Maduro

Most Read

Pro-Palestinian protesters march toward the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US House to vote on bill criminalizing boycott of 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 3 May 2025
Throughout Operation Prosperity Guardian, current and former US military and intelligence officials expressed disquiet at the enormous “cost offset” involved in battling Ansar Allah. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

Ansar Allah triumphant: US facing Red Sea defeat again

  • Opinion
  • 3 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • Today

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
UN experts warn: Stop the genocide or witness Gaza's end
Politics

Stop the genocide or witness end of life in Gaza: UN experts warn

Israeli police attack mourners as they carry the casket of killed Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in occupied al-Quds, Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP)
Politics

Israeli sniper who killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh identified

The Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

Pentagon’s unused properties drain billions in taxpayer funds

Haaretz
Palestine

Israeli military avoids calling up unwilling reservists: Haaretz

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS