U.N.: Iraqi rights violated by troops
Report also says Saddam's removal ended systematic abuses
(CNN) -- A U.N. report released Friday on human rights in Iraq's post-Saddam Hussein era found some violations committed by U.S.-led coalition troops, including prisoner abuse, which it called a "stain" on the effort to foster freedom.
But the 45-page document stressed that "the removal of Saddam Hussein must be counted a major contribution to human rights in Iraq" and said the coalition has made strides in planting human rights during its occupation.
The report, prepared by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, focused on ways to combat human rights violations in Iraq, but it also noted the deterioration of economic, health, educational and security conditions for people caught in the crossfire of war and insurgency.
"The fall of Saddam Hussein removed a government that preyed on the Iraqi people," the report said, "and committed shocking, systematic and criminal violations of human rights," which the United Nations had documented since 1991.
But after the start of the U.S.-led occupation in spring 2003, "there have, sadly, been some violations of human rights, committed by some coalition soldiers," the report found.
It concluded that "everyone accepts the good intentions of the coalition governments as regards the behavior of their forces in Iraq. No one imputes to coalition governments any intention to violate the rights of ordinary Iraqis."
There have been strides, the report said, since the occupation began, such as "an internal debate on constitutional architecture mindful of international human rights norms; the establishment of an Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights; greater freedoms for ordinary Iraqis; more participation of women in the public life of Iraq; and greater freedom of opinion and expression."
On the other hand, "there have been serious human rights problems that must be recognized."
The report said the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners is a "stain upon the effort to bring freedom to Iraq."
"The hardships suffered by Iraqis in the aftermath of the victory of coalition forces were clearly not intended. But the fact of the matter is that they occurred. Ordinary Iraqis did undergo deprivations in respect of basic economic and social rights. Fortunately, the situation has ameliorated."
The report noted nearly 1,000 coalition forces and 200 coalition civilians have died since April 2003.
"The coalition authorities have apparently not kept a count of Iraqi civilian deaths because it is asserted that Iraqi authorities do so," the report said. "Some have asserted that there have been some 10,000 deaths."
The report said "some 10,000 people or more have been taken into custody."
Iraqis also suffered after major combat ended, the United Nations said.
"In the aftermath of the war, basic services, already in a state of serious disrepair before the war, broke down and the Iraqi people underwent hardships exacerbated by looting."
The report said the establishment of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, an interim government and an Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights helped establish order, mete out justice and ease the misery.
"New constitutional and legal instruments were worked upon," the report said, "drawing upon the norms of international human rights law and work was done on the establishment of an Iraqi special tribunal to try those accused of criminal violations of human rights in the past."
The report looked at allegations of abuse that came from Iraqis interviewed in Amman, Jordan. These Iraqis spoke of arbitrary arrests and detention, the report said.
"Allegedly in many cases, coalition forces break front doors or windows and throw hand grenades into the room before they access the property," the report said. "Searches are not conducted with care, no search or arrest warrants are being shown. In some cases, money or jewelry found during the raid is being taken by soldiers and not being returned."
Some behavior has been regarded as fostering humiliation, the report said, pointing to examples such as "leading women in their night dress outside of the house or when showing disrespect for the Koran through throwing it on the floor or tearing it apart."
"In some cases, the wife or son is being arrested when the husband or father cannot be found. Children are allegedly being interrogated during such raids," it said.
As for detention, many Iraqis were arrested in the aftermath of victory, the United Nations said.
"For a long while, no one had any idea how many people were taken into custody, where they were held, in what conditions they were kept and how they were being treated," the report said. "From the point of view of international human rights and humanitarian law, there was a major lack of protection here, and there was accountability to no one."
The report notes, "It is now a matter of public knowledge that detainees have been ill-treated and degraded."
Chief U.N. envoy Sergio Veira de Mello raised concerns about prisoner abuse allegations a month before he was killed in an August bombing by insurgents at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
"The allegations included beatings, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, hooding, and prolonged forced standing and kneeling," the report said.
The report cited key elements of prisoner abuse reports prepared by the U.S. military and International Committee of the Red Cross. Other human rights abuses noted stem from hostage taking and displacement of people from their homes.
The report urges the new Iraqi interim government to undertake various legal reforms and develop a strategy to address "the legacy of brutal authoritarian rule and massive human rights abuses in Iraq."
It also suggested the consideration of a truth and reconciliation commission involving Saddam-era abuses and a reparations commission. It said a human rights ombudsman should be designated soon and the coalition should allow regular inspection of detention facilities.
