Torture may be worse now in Iraq than under former leader Saddam Hussein, the UN's chief anti-torture expert says.

The reports and photographs of Iraqi prisoners being tortured and abused are extremely disturbing. Now more reports are coming out, and Amnesty International and other groups report that torture and human rights abuses of Iraqi detainees may be occurring routinely.

According to Amnesty International's website: "Amnesty International has received frequent reports of torture or other ill-treatment by Coalition Forces during the past year. Detainees have reported being routinely subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during arrest and detention. Many have told Amnesty International that they were tortured and ill-treated by US and UK troops during interrogation. Methods often reported include prolonged sleep deprivation; beatings; prolonged restraint in painful positions, sometimes combined with... prolonged hooding... Virtually none of the allegations of torture or ill-treatment has been adequately investigated by the authorities."

The United States clearly is trying to say that this is an act of few. "The theory that these horrific acts were committed by a few renegade soldiers has been undercut by charges that the men and women shown in the pictures were actually working at the direction of military intelligence officers," according to the New York Times

We demand an immediate, independent, impartial and public investigation into all allegations of torture in Iraq. The investigation must include representatives from Arab nations and an international body to be credible.

Sincerely,
The People....