اللجنة
العربية لحقوق الإنسان
ARAB
COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION
ARABE DES DROITS HUMAINS
Press
Release
Washington,
30 April 2004
Contact:
Abderrahim
Sabir
(202)
468-8220
THE
ARAB COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CALLS FOR A PUBLIC AND INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION
The
Arab Commission For Human Rights is deeply troubled by the images of torture
and ill treatment of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. The ACHR calls for
urgent and independent investigation into the documented images of torture and
other allegations of torture and ill treatment.
”The occupation authority is bound by International and the Geneva
Conventions to protect the Iraqi civilians, including detainees. The soldiers
shown in broadcast images were boasting with total impunity for their crimes,
” said Doctor Violette Daguerre, President of the
Arab Commission for Human Rights. The
images show Iraqis stripped naked, hooded and being tormented by their
captors.
“Torture
and ill-treatment should not be tolerated under any circumstances. The
occupation authority should call for a full independent, impartial and public
investigation into all allegations of torture and ill treatment. Any findings
of such investigations should be made public and reparation, including
compensation, must be paid to the victims or to their families,” added Dr.
Daguerre.
The Arab Commission for Human Rights does not consider these images as an
isolated incident. The ACHR documented 350 cases of extra-judicial killings
and received reports of tens of credible cases torture or other ill-treatment
by Occupation Forces during the past year. Detainees have reported being
routinely subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during arrest and
detention. 38 articles of the four Geneva Conventions were ignored by the
occupying forces.
The
occupation authority has from the start demonstrated ambivalence toward human
rights and humanitarian law concerns. The stalemate in Falluja and other areas
has led to allegedly thousands of Iraqis killed. The occupation authorities
are alleged to have used excessive use of lethal force. The ACHR calls on the
occupation leadership to abide by the U.N. Basic Principles on the Use of
Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
C.A.DROITS
HUMAINS -5 Rue Gambetta - 92240 Malakoff - France
Phone:
(33-1) 4092-1588 * Fax:
(33-1) 4654-1913 *