Here is a site with the text of the Geneva Convention in regard to war prisoners.

"Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, color, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria."

It also states it applies to:

"Persons belonging to one of the following categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:


  1. Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.
  2. Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organized resistance movements, fulfill the following conditions:
    1. That of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;
    2. That of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
    3. That of carrying arms openly;
    4. That of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

The prisoners we are talking about here are not protected under the Geneva Convention.