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Dr. Hussain Shahristani, one of Iraq's top nuclear scientists, was tortured after refusing to develop an atomic bomb for the Iraq government. Amnesty International research has recorded extensive evidence pointing to how prisoners in Iraq are subject to torture, including beatings, being burned with acid, electric shocks, and even amputation. |
| How Amnesty Responds | |
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Amnesty condemns torture in all cases. As defined by the United Nations, torture is the purposeful infliction of severe pain or suffering on a detainee by public officials or with their acquiescence. Torture does not happen simply because individual torturers are sadistic, or because legal restraints happen to lapse in isolated incidents. Torture often is an integral part of a government's security strategy, a component of the state's machinery for suppressing dissent. Torture of common criminal suspects may also be a routine aspect of a government's justice system. Torture is used to gain information, to obtain a confession, to punish, to intimidate, and to terrorize. Whatever its immediate purpose, torture degrades the victims and at the same time it dehumanizes the torturer. When individuals are threatened with torture, AI acts urgently and on a massive global scale to try to rescue them through its Urgent Action Network - a group of thousands of individuals who commit to respond promptly to the most urgent cases. To stop torture before it happens, Amnesty lobbies governments to implement international standards. It has launched its own 12-point Prevention program for the Prevention of Torture that calls for immediate, active measures on the part of governments. |
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| How You Can Help: | |
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If you are not a member of Amnesty International, the first step to take action against torture is to join AI Canada. You may do this at Join AI Canada . In the notes box indicate your interest in becoming a part of the Urgent Action Network. Approximately 1/3 of the cases taken up by this network concern fear of torture cases. To learn more about the UAN network visit UAN Network |
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| For More Information: | |
| Amnesty's 1999 Annual Report on Iraq | |
| Report and News Releases on Iraq | |
| Get Involved with Amnesty | |
| Take Action for Human Rights | |
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Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary, activist movement that works impartially to prevent violations of people's fundamental rights. AI Canada (English Speaking), 312 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, ON K1N 1H9 Phone: (613) 744-7667 or 1-800-AMNESTY Fax: (613) 746-2411 E-mail:info@amnesty.ca |