From: Arab Commission for Human Rights, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Development of International Law, Dominican Leadership Conference, Global Policy Forum, Human Rights Watch, International Peace Bureau, Iraq Analysis Group, Justitia Universalis, Middle East Research and Information Project, New Internationalism Project-Institute for Policy Studies, Physicians for Human Rights, Protection of Human Rights Defenders in the Arab World, Former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy
To: Security Council Permanent Representatives
March 14, 2006
Dear Ambassador:
On the eve of the Security Council's quarterly discussion on the situation in Iraq, we are writing to express our urgent concern.
In recent weeks, several disturbing reports have been released, including the Secretary General's quarterly report (March 3, 2006), UNAMI's bi-monthly report, Amnesty International's report entitled "Beyond Abu Ghraib: Detention and Torture in Iraq" (March 2006) and Human Rights First's report on "Detainee Deaths in US Custody in Iraq and Afghanistan"(February 22, 2006).
These reports have highlighted significant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, especially in the area of detention practices. They reveal that thousands of Iraqis, arrested without warrant and classified as "security internees," continue to be detained by the Multinational Force for lengthy periods without charge or trial and without the right to challenge the lawfulness of their detention before a judicial body.
Claiming authority from Security Council Resolution 1546 (2004), the Multinational Force (MNF) continues to detain thousands of Iraqis, in conditions that violate provisions of international law, such as Article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions (1949), Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and customary international human rights law.
Many other matters of grave concern arise in Iraq as well – matters which, as you are aware, are widely seen as breaches of international law. Since the Security Council has provided the mandate for the Multinational Force, the Council must assume responsibility for the MNF's actions.
In the past, the Council has chosen to conduct its review of the MNF on a pro forma basis only. We believe that the time has come for the Security Council to accept its responsibility, to thoroughly discuss these matters in light of international law, to consult with the international community, and to substantially review the mandate it has given to the MNF.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Violette Daguerre
President
Arab Commission for Human Rights
Peter Weiss
Vice-President Center for Constitutional Rights
Lene Schumacher
Director of Programs
Center for Development of International Law
Eileen Gannon
Main Representative
Dominican Leadership Conference
James A. Paul
Executive Director
Global Policy Forum
Joe Stork
Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division
Human Rights Watch
Cora Weiss
President
International Peace Bureau
Rachel Laurence
Senior Researcher
Iraq Analysis Group
Rachid Mesli
President
Justitia Universalis
Chris Toensing
Executive Director
Middle East Research and Information Project
Phyllis Bennis
Director
New Internationalism Project, Institute for Policy Studies
Leonard Rubenstein
Executive Director
Physicians for Human Rights
Dr. Haytham Manna
President
Protection of Human Rights Defenders in the Arab World
Hans von Sponeck
Former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq
Susi Snyder
Secretary General
Women International League for Peace and Freedom
William Pace
Executive Director
World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy
