Sailors' psychological torture

Last Modified: 06 Apr 2007
By: Samira Ahmed

One of 15 British sailors released yesterday by Iran says he was subjected to emotional and psychological torture.

Blindfolded, bound and held in solitary confinement, fearing at one point they faced a firing squad.

The British sailors and marines held by Iran today gave their first full account of their 13 days in captivity. And they did not mince their words.

Lieutenant Felix Carmen tells Channel 4 News "emotionally, psychologically, torture is a word of I probably would use".

And the six servicemen who spoke today reserved particular condemantion for the treatment of Leading Seaman Faye Turney, who was isolated from her shipmates and told they had gone home.

Tonight Iran has said the press conference was staged.

Lt Carman, the most senior of the 15 British naval personnel held by Iran, goes on to recount that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who were holding him beat a fellow marine for panicking because he thought that the group were about to be executed.

And Lt Carman describes keeping in touch with his colleagues by whispering through the air vents in between the cells where they were being held.