Topic: U.N. expert says torture in Iraq perhaps worse now than under Saddam

Media: The Associated Press
Byline:
Date: 21 September 2006


GENEVA_Torture in Iraq is perhaps worse now than it was under the regime of
Saddam Hussein, the United Nations' chief anti-torture expert said Thursday,
describing a situation where militias, terrorist groups, government forces
and others disregard rules on the humane treatment of prisoners.

"What most people tell you is that the situation as far as torture is
concerned now in Iraq is totally out of hand," said Manfred Nowak, the
global body's special investigator on torture. "The situation is so bad many
people say it is worse than it has been in the times of Saddam Hussein."