Tehran, 2007/04/11, MNA

On Tuesday, the Red Cross representative in Tehran examined the torture marks on the body of Jalal Sharafi, the Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped in Iraq on February 4 and released on April 3.

In a Tehran hospital, at which Iraq’s ambassador to Tehran Mohamed Majid Al-Sheikh, was also present, the Red Cross official observed holes drilled in Sharafi’s leg, fractures of the nose and neck, some deep injuries on his back, a tear to his ear and evidence of bleeding in the alimentary canal.

Sharafi - the second secretary at Iran's Baghdad embassy - was abducted in southeastern Baghdad on February 4 by a group connected to the Iraqi Defense Ministry which operates under the supervision of the U.S. forces in Iraq.

According to his doctor the torture signs on his body are clearly visible.

The freed diplomat is recovering at a hospital in Tehran.

Sharafi told the Red Cross representative that he had undergone horrific torturing during the first 15 days of his arrest. 

A few days after his release, Sharafi told the IRNA news agency that he was tortured by his captors, including CIA agents. 

Sharafi said agents had interrogated him on his country’s role in Iraq. 

He said he had been taken from his car by men in Iraqi army uniforms and was subjected to torture "day and night". 

“I was kidnapped on a Baghdad street while shopping, by officials who had Iraqi Defense Ministry ID cards and were riding in American forces vehicles,” he said. 

Sharafi said he was taken from the Karrada district to a base near Baghdad airport and questioned in Arabic and English. 

“ ‘The CIA officials’ questions focused mainly on Iran’s presence and influence in Iraq”, he told IRNA.

"When faced with my responses concerning Iran’s official ties with the Iraqi government they increased the torture.”

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