Human Rights Watch Notes Deterioration in Iraq
HRW released a world report, citing a continuing rise in violent attacks by insurgency groups and hampered efforts to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure despite progress made in the political process.
A month after Freedom House reported no improvement in freedom in Iraq despite some gains, the largest U.S.-based human rights organization released a world report yesterday stating a worsened situation in the Middle East country.
"The human rights situation in Iraq deteriorated significantly in 2005," said the report by Human Rights Watch.
The global survey titled "Human Rights Watch World Report 2006" cited a continuing rise in violent attacks by insurgency groups and hampered efforts to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure despite progress made in the political process.
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After drafting a constitution in October promoting individual rights, many of which are subject to implementing legislation, Iraq recently came out of its landmark parliamentary elections in December that drew a high turnout and whose final results are expected Friday.
Freedom House's "Freedom in the World 2006" also noted modest gains in political rights but stated, "Gains made in Iraq could be wiped out if the current level of violence escalates into outright civil conflict among Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds."
In September 2005, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq reported to the U.S. Secretary-General that the human rights situation in Iraq continued to give rise to serious concern, the watchdog cited.
Still, Michael Cromartie, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, stressed the gains – i.e., gains of religious freedom – since the fall of Saddam Hussein in a comment made just after the December Iraqi election.
"While there are still problems in Iraq, there was simply no religious freedom and no human rights under Saddam," he said.
Freedom House also maintained a hopeful view on the human rights situation in the Arab world.
"Although the countries of the Middle East lag behind other regions in adherence to democratic standards, human rights, and basic liberties, the progress registered in 2005 may have important implications for freedom's future prospects in the region and globally.
"The Freedom in the World 2006 ratings for the Middle East represent the region's best performance in the history of the survey."
Their annual report gave Iraq ratings of six and five in political rights and civil liberties, respectively, on a scale from one to seven, seven being the least free.
"Despite the fact that countries with a Not Free status continue to predominate in the Middle East, an analysis of Freedom in the World scores over the past five years ... indicates a positive regional trajectory."
The Human Rights Watch World Report 2006 contains survey information on human rights developments in more than 70 countries in 2005.
