DATE=03/14/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09760

TITLE=EDITORIAL: IRAQ RIGHTS RECORD EXTREMELY POOR

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial expressing the policies of the United States Government:

Voice: Along with Iran and North Korea, Iraq has been identified by President George W. Bush as part of an "axis of evil." By supporting terrorists and seeking weapons of mass destruction, these countries threaten the peace of the world. They also threaten their own people by violating fundamental rights. In the case of Iraq, the government's human rights record remains extremely poor, to put it mildly.

Political power in Iraq lies exclusively in a repressive one-party apparatus dominated by Saddam Hussein and his family. Iraqi citizens are denied the right to change their government. In fact, they have virtually no rights at all. Freedom of speech, assembly, association, religion, and movement are all severely restricted.

The Iraqi regime continues to execute alleged political opponents. As the United Nations special rapporteur for Iraq has pointed out, "the mere suggestion that someone is not a supporter of [Saddam Hussein] carries the prospect of the death penalty."

For decades, the Iraqi government has conducted a brutal campaign of arbitrary arrest and murder against Shi'ite Muslim religious leaders. Shi'ites constitute at least a sixty percent majority of the people of Iraq. But the government has long been dominated by Sunni Arabs, who make up around fifteen percent of the population. As many as twenty percent of Iraqis are Sunni Muslim Kurds, while the rest of the population is composed of Sunni Turkmen, Christians, and others. These groups are also persecuted.

In addition to killing people, the Iraqi government is notorious for its use of torture. According to former Iraqi prisoners, torture techniques include branding, electric shocks to the genitals, pulling out fingernails, dripping acid on the skin, and breaking of arms and legs. Rape is also used as a method of torture, along with threats of rape or other harm to family members.

Governments that violate citizens' rights are also likely to threaten their neighbors. Clearly, this is the case with Iraq, which has invaded both Iran and Kuwait over the past two decades. Moreover, Iraq continues to support terrorists and to seek weapons of mass destruction. For these reasons, the U.S. is, in the words of Secretary of State Colin Powell, "examining options with respect to regime change, because the people of the. . .world and the people of Iraq will be better off with a new regime."

Anncr: That was an editorial expressing the policies of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.