> News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International
> AI Index: MDE 14/058/2003 (Public)
> 30 March 2003
>
> Iraq war: Global backlash against human rights
>
> Human rights abuses connected to the war on Iraq have not been limited to
that country -- the war's impact on human rights has been seen in many
countries around the world, Amnesty International declared today as it
released its report In the shadow of war: backlash against human right.
>
> "Governments appear to be using the world's focus on the theatre of war to
violate human rights shielded from public scrutiny."
>
> Amnesty International's initial report documents examples of how, since
the beginning of the military operation, there has been a backlash against
certain human rights in 14 countries.
>
> "From Egypt to the USA, from Belgium to Sudan, governments must respect
fundamental rights and refrain from using the war in Iraq as a pretext for
curtailing or abusing these rights," Amnesty International stated.
>
> The report documents:
>
> - Attacks on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly
> Authorities in various countries have attempted to prevent people from
demonstrating and have harassed and arbitrarily detained those who have
demonstrated. In some cases "anti-terrorism" legislation has been used to
support these violations.
>
> In Belgium, since early March, more than 450 anti-war demonstrators have
been placed under administrative arrest, a form of "preventive" detention
lasting up to 12 hours. In the UK, the Terrorism Act has been invoked in
some areas to allow special police powers to "stop and search" people
without reasonable suspicion.
>
> - Excessive use of force by police against anti-war demonstrators
> Since 20 March, millions of people around the world have taken to the
streets to protest against the war in Iraq. In seven countries police have
used excessive force against demonstrators; in some cases this resulted in
deaths -- including an 11-year-old child. Some demonstrators have been
beaten and thousands arbitrarily detained. Some of those detained have been
ill-treated or tortured.
>
> In Sudan, three students were reportedly killed during demonstrations in
Khartoum. In Greece, anti-riot police beat Iraqi immigrants and took 38 of
them away to check their identities; three of them are still in hospital
recovering from their injuries. In Turkey, riot police used batons to
disperse about 5,000 people who had gathered after Friday prayers on 21
March to protest against the war outside the Beyazit mosque.
>
> - Restriction of asylum rights
> In many parts of the world, the rights of asylum seekers are being
restricted or abused.
>
> In the European Union, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK have frozen
decisions on Iraqi asylum claims. In the USA, "Operation Liberty Shield"
mandates the detention of asylum-seekers from Iraq and at least 33 other, as
yet unnamed, countries who arrive in the USA and seek asylum at the point of
entry.
>
> The report contains entries on Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece,
Jordan, Norway, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Turkey, UK, USA and Yemen.
>
> To see the full version of the report, please visit:
<http://click.topica.com/maaaXDqaaW0lTbb0iqnb/>
>
>
> For comment, please contact the following media officers:
>
> Between 0800 GMT and 1900 GMT
> Judit Arenas on + 44 207413 5810 or mobile + 44 7778 472 188 (English and
Spanish)
> Teresa Richardson on + 44 207413 5554 or mobile + 44 7768 182 445
(English)
> Kamal Samari on + 44 207413 5831 or mobile + 44 7778 472 126 (English,
Arabic and French)
> Magda Wendorff-Kowalczuk on + 44 207413 5729 or mobile + 44 7778 472 173
(English, German and Polish)
> Lydia Aroyo on + 44 207 413 5599 or mobile + 44 77798 555 629 (Bulgarian,
English and Russian )
>
> Between 1900 GMT and 0200 GMT
> Alistair Hodgett on +1 202 544 0200 ext 302 or mobile +1 703 861 7384
(English)
>
> Between 0200 GMT and 0800 GMT
> Rebecca Lineham on + 64 21 422 562 (English)
>
>
> For further information on Amnesty International's concerns and
recommendations about the crisis in Iraq please visit:
<http://click.topica.com/maaaXDqaaW0lUbb0iqnb/>
>
> When a crisis puts people at risk of very serious human rights violations,
Amnesty International has to act. Please donate to Iraq Crisis Response,
visit: <http://click.topica.com/maaaXDqaaW0lYbb0iqnb/>
>
>
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> in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty
> International.
>