May 10, 2004
Mr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz
Secretary General, Organization of Islamic Countries
OIC Headquarters, Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
Dear Secretary General,
I am writing on behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party to inform you of the shock, horror and condemnation emanating from the people of Pakistan over the abuse of detained Iraqis. This outrage at the humiliation, torture and sexual abuse that the suspects suffered is shared across the Muslim world.
Presently there is an outcry in the media about the abuses that have taken place. The British and U.S. Governments are ordering inquiries into the abuse claims.
The PPP would like to see the Organization of Islamic Countries also involve itself in the issue. It may be noted that Amnesty International, Red Crossand other human rights groups have been investigating, reporting and bringing to attention the reports of abuse before the Coalition authorities. People of Pakistan, and people across the larger Muslim world, would also like to see the Organization of Islamic countries share the pain of the Iraqi people by taking up the abuse issue.
We who belong to the OIC must stand by the values of justice, due process and human dignity, which are at the heart of Islam. In this the twenty first century, the time has come to play a proactive role by having our ownOIC human rights groups that can alert the world community and public at large about abuses when they take place and to prevent them from taking place.
The PPP and I feltdisgusted uponseeing how badly the Iraqi prisoners were treated. They were treated worse than animals being stripped naked, beaten, tied to electrical wires, urinated upon,pulled naked by dog leasheswith young boys and womenreportedlysexually abused(and filmed while being abused).
Worse than the humiliation is the sense of helplessness that seems to pervade as though we in the Muslim worldare helpless victims.We could use the Iraqi prisoner abuse issue to advantage by undertaking steps that help preventacts of torture and humiliation from being committed through interrogation. If we are able to do so, the suffering of the Iraqi people will have not gone in vain.
According to a reportby Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba,"numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses," and "grave breaches of international law" were committed.
The American President andBritish Prime Minister have apologised to the Iraqi people and to the Iraqi victims of torture.I believe that we also owe an apology to the Iraqi prisoners who are victims of degrading treatment violative of international law for remaining ignorant when weowed it to our community tohave been on alert.
Sincerely,
(Benazir Bhutto)