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HRW urges probes into ‘rampant’ use of torture in Iraq
BAGHDAD, July 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Human Rights Watch called on Tuesday for
investigations into the “rampant” use of torture against people arrested on
suspicion of belonging to the Islamic State group.
“Torture is rampant in Iraq’s justice system, yet judges lack instructions
for responding to torture allegations,” the watchdog’s deputy Middle East
director, Lama Fakih, said.
“Defendants, including ISIS suspects, won’t be able to get a fair trial so
long as the security forces can freely torture people into confessing,” she
added.
Around 20,000 people were arrested in the three-year battle by Iraqi forces
to drive out IS, which had seized swathes of western and northern Iraq in
2014.
HRW found that in 22 of the 30 cases it reviewed in Baghdad, judges had
refused to consider allegations of torture.
In several cases, judges ordered forensic medical examinations and found
signs of torture, “but did not necessarily order a retrial or investigation
and prosecution of the abusive officers”, the group said.
Iraq’s constitution outlaws “all forms of physical and psychological
torture and inhuman treatment”.
HRW called on judicial authorities to “investigate all credible allegations
of torture and the security forces responsible”.
Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council should issue guidelines on the steps judges
are obliged to take when allegations of torture in custody arise.
The human rights group said parliament should also pass an anti-torture
law, requiring judges to order a medical examination of any detainee alleging
torture within 24 hours after being notified.
“When judges convict based on coerced confessions and disregard allegations
of torture, they are sending a message to the security forces that torture is
a valid investigative tool,” Fakih said.
“The Iraqi government needs to do much more to ensure that criminal
investigations are genuine and impartial, and that officers who torture
detainees are appropriately prosecuted.”
BSS/AFP/RY/1730 hrs