SWITZERLAND: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour calls for an international probe into the conditions of detentions centres in Iraq

Record ID: 334710

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour calls for an international probe into the conditions of detentions centres in Iraq
  • Date: 18th November 2005
  • Summary: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS LOUISE ARBOUR SITTING AT HER DESK
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA59IE493PVPJ8U6F888JXLPJNC
  • Story Text: An international probe should cover all Iraqi detention centres because of the rising number of people being picked up in mass security and military operations, said United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour on Friday (November 18).
    "I'm calling for an international inquiry into the conditions of detentions in Iraq, in large part because of the recent very troubling allegation of widespread use of torture, but also for many other reasons, including the number of detainees, which seem to be considerable by any standards, and indications that some people remain in detention, even though there's been an order for their release. I think there's very systemic widespread and very serious concern regarding detention conditions in Iraq," Arbour said.
    Her call echoed that of Sunni Arab politicians, who do not trust the government to investigate allegations that Shi'ite militias linked to Iraq's Interior Ministry were behind the torture and abuse of prisoners.
    "The important thing is that there be not only and impartial serious professional investigations, but that they appear to be credible to the Iraqi public opinion. That's the most important thing, and in my view, this would much better be done by an international involvement", she added.
    The underground bunker, part of a fortified building near the ministry's Baghdad compound, was discovered by U.S. troops during a search on November 13.
    Meanwhile, United Nations human investigators rejected an invitation to visit the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, after Washington refused to allow them to interview the more than 500 detainees.
    "The special rapporters, five of them have requested access, they have their own methods of operation, they are independent experts of the commission, I think it's entirely up to them to decide under what circumstances they are prepared to accept restrictions on their usual methods of operation. I think this is a call for them to make, and I defer entirely to their judgement on this issue," Arbour said about their decision.
    The five envoys report on torture, arbitrary detention and various abuses for the U.N., and their decision come after their warning that they would not go unless Washington let them speak to detained terrorism suspects as well as U.S. prison staff and officials.
    ec/jrc
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