The Hindu : International : 'Human rights affected by war on terror'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004

International

International

'Human rights affected by war on terror'

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JUNE 22. The human rights situation in the Gulf region has worsened as a result of the "relentless pursuit'' of the U.S.-led `war' on terrorism, according to Amnesty International.

In a report, released here today, it said the campaign was having a `damaging' effect on the families of thousands of suspects held in the Gulf countries, the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay and elsewhere. It accused Governments in the region of using the anti-terror drive as a cover for repression, and of disregarding international law.

The report said the families of prisoners lived in a climate of "fear and uncertainty. Because of the prolonged and indefinite detentions of their relatives, who are held with no safeguards and with a disturbing disregard for international law, the suffering of these families is often exacerbated by the lack of recognition of their plight,'' it noted. Criticising the secrecy surrounding the detentions, it said the U.S. and its allies continued to refuse to disclose sufficient information about those they were holding on unsubstantiated charges.

"The majority of these families first hear of their relatives' detention in the media or from friends. Up to this date, Amnesty International has not even been able to get an accurate figure on the number of those arrested, as the authorities holding them refuse to disclose full information,'' the report said.

The document, entitled The Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula: Human Rights Fall Victim to the War on Terror, quoted one human rights activist from the Gulf as saying that the anti-terror campaign was "every despot's dream come true.''

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