UN GROUP: TERROR FIGHT NO EXCUSE FOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

November 5, 2015: A U.N. watchdog group has accused Iraq of violating the human rights of its citizens in the name of combating acts of terrorism. Iraq is one of seven countries examined by the U.N. Human Rights Committee, which monitors state-parties implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The committee of 18 independent experts acknowledged Iraq’s need to adopt measures to combat acts of terrorism. This, especially in light of the grave crimes being committed by the so-called Islamic State (IS), including killings, abductions, enslavement, rape, and torture.
But, it said these horrific acts do not justify the human rights violations reportedly being committed against civilians by Iraqi security forces and allied armed groups in their efforts to defeat IS.
The vice-chair of the committee, Yuji Iwasawa, said the experts are concerned by allegations that police often use torture to extract confessions from people suspected of terrorism and other crimes.
“Confessions obtained under duress have been used as evidence in court, that many women deprived of liberty have been subjected to rape and sexual assault and that the number of deaths in custody were the result of torture,” Iwasawa said.
The U.N. body called on Iraq to consider abolishing the death penalty, which it says is used excessively and fails to meet international standards that capital punishment be used only for the “most serious crimes.”   
The committee notes 240 people have been executed in Iraq in the last two years and more than 1,700 people are on death row. (Sources: voanews.com, 05/11/2015)