WUOrevolt
9th March 2006, 03:33
Iraqi rights abuses 'increasing'
"A climate of extreme violence" continued in Iraq, the report said
Reports of killings and torture by the Iraqi government and its agents increased in 2005, a US report says.
The State Department's annual report says police abuses included threats, intimidation and beatings, as well as the use of electric shocks.
It also singles out China, North Korea, Burma, Iran, Zimbabwe, Cuba and Belarus as being among the worst offenders.
The document analyses all the world's nations except the US, but admits America's own shortcomings.
Washington has come under strong international criticism for its treatment of detainees in Iraq since the US-led invasion there in 2003, as well as in Afghanistan and at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay.
The ongoing insurgency, coupled with sectarian and criminal violence, seriously affected the Iraqi government's human rights performance
US State Department report
"A climate of extreme violence in which people were killed for political and other reasons continued [in Iraq]," the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices says.
The worst abuses were carried out by police but the military was also a violator, the report says.
In particular, the document mentions "suspension by the arms or legs, as well as the reported use of electric drills and cords" and other forms of torture by Iraqi police.
It adds: "The ongoing insurgency, coupled with sectarian and criminal violence, seriously affected the government's human rights performance."
The report also highlights severe rights abuses in a number of other countries throughout the world:
China: "there was a trend towards increased harassment, detention and imprisonment by government and security authorities of those perceived as threatening"
Iran: summary executions, different forms of torture and violence by militias with ties to the government continued
Burma: extrajudicial killings, rape, torture and beatings of prisoners and detainees continued
North Korea: "extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and arbitrary detention, including many political prisoners" continued
Israel and the occupied (Palestinian) territories: the Israeli government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, but security forces committed serious abuses against Palestinian detainees; also Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians and the military continued
Russia: a trend toward "erosion of the accountability of government leaders to the people", including corruption, selective law enforcement and pressure on the judiciary
Sudan: there was evidence of continuing genocide in the western region of Darfur blamed on the government and allied militia; also serious abuses by anti-government rebels
The report also singled out Zimbabwe, Cuba and Belarus - along with China, Iran, North Korea and Burma - as countries that allegedly subjected their citizens "to a wholesale deprivation of their basic rights".
US record
The document also acknowledged American shortcomings.
It said the US's "own journey toward liberty and justice for all has been long and difficult, and it is far from complete".
Introducing the report, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped it "will encourage governments, organisations, the media and publics to address human rights problems".
The report has been published annually by the State Department since 1977.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4788030.stm
"A climate of extreme violence" continued in Iraq, the report said
Reports of killings and torture by the Iraqi government and its agents increased in 2005, a US report says.
The State Department's annual report says police abuses included threats, intimidation and beatings, as well as the use of electric shocks.
It also singles out China, North Korea, Burma, Iran, Zimbabwe, Cuba and Belarus as being among the worst offenders.
The document analyses all the world's nations except the US, but admits America's own shortcomings.
Washington has come under strong international criticism for its treatment of detainees in Iraq since the US-led invasion there in 2003, as well as in Afghanistan and at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay.
The ongoing insurgency, coupled with sectarian and criminal violence, seriously affected the Iraqi government's human rights performance
US State Department report
"A climate of extreme violence in which people were killed for political and other reasons continued [in Iraq]," the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices says.
The worst abuses were carried out by police but the military was also a violator, the report says.
In particular, the document mentions "suspension by the arms or legs, as well as the reported use of electric drills and cords" and other forms of torture by Iraqi police.
It adds: "The ongoing insurgency, coupled with sectarian and criminal violence, seriously affected the government's human rights performance."
The report also highlights severe rights abuses in a number of other countries throughout the world:
China: "there was a trend towards increased harassment, detention and imprisonment by government and security authorities of those perceived as threatening"
Iran: summary executions, different forms of torture and violence by militias with ties to the government continued
Burma: extrajudicial killings, rape, torture and beatings of prisoners and detainees continued
North Korea: "extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and arbitrary detention, including many political prisoners" continued
Israel and the occupied (Palestinian) territories: the Israeli government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, but security forces committed serious abuses against Palestinian detainees; also Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians and the military continued
Russia: a trend toward "erosion of the accountability of government leaders to the people", including corruption, selective law enforcement and pressure on the judiciary
Sudan: there was evidence of continuing genocide in the western region of Darfur blamed on the government and allied militia; also serious abuses by anti-government rebels
The report also singled out Zimbabwe, Cuba and Belarus - along with China, Iran, North Korea and Burma - as countries that allegedly subjected their citizens "to a wholesale deprivation of their basic rights".
US record
The document also acknowledged American shortcomings.
It said the US's "own journey toward liberty and justice for all has been long and difficult, and it is far from complete".
Introducing the report, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped it "will encourage governments, organisations, the media and publics to address human rights problems".
The report has been published annually by the State Department since 1977.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4788030.stm