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
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

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

Senate blames Secret Service failures for Trump assassination attempt

South Korea warns US chip tariffs threaten economy, global supply

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

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

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