Amnesty: US Sacrificing Human Rights

May 28, 2002
By Laurie Kellman, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON –– The United States has fought the war on terrorism at the expense of human rights, eroding its credibility as a global leader on humanitarian issues, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

In an annual report on human rights worldwide, the group took numerous swipes at the U.S. government for its response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including the indefinite detainment of foreigners being investigated for terrorism links.

"Citizens around the world suffer the consequences when the U.S. defaults on its responsibility to promote human rights," said William F. Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

The report also documented a decrease in the use of the death penalty, from 40 countries in 1997 to 27 last year. The United States is among the 27. The group also found a decrease in the number of nations using torture on prisoners, from 90 percent in 2000 to 73 percent last year.

But in its bid to hold together a coalition to fight the war against terror, the United States has stifled its own criticism against allies with records of human rights abuses, the group said.


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