Amnesty International’s Survey Condemns Governments for Human Rights Failures

Amnesty International says governments are failing to provide proper leadership in the quest for a world order based on respect for human rights. In its annual worldwide survey, released in London today, the watchdog group says the global war against terrorism has been more effective in eroding human rights principles than in countering violence. The report criticizes the Russian military's treatment of Chechen civilians and U.S. treatment of Iraqi and Afghan detainees. It also criticizes the poor human rights situations in Iran, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. In Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are cited for threatening Uyghur asylum seekers and refugees with detention and expulsion to China. Conditions on death row in Kyrgyzstan are described as cruel and inhuman. And despite its own moratorium on capital punishment, Amnesty says Bishkek deported prisoners to China and Uzekistan, where they faced execution. Uzbekistan is condemned for what Amnesty describes as its "appalling" human rights record in 2004.