September 11 - A global human rights agenda

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions Prisoners, human rights and the quest for justice Basics: Why September 11 is a human rights concern Afghanistan: a vicious circle of human rights abuse What is "terrorism"? Armed conflict and the laws of war Weapons and their trade Protecting refugees

What is Amnesty International’s role in response to the events of September 11, 2001?

The intentional targeting of civilians in the September 11 attacks was a grave human rights abuse. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has also described these attacks as a crime against humanity.

Amnesty International’s role in response to these attacks is the same as with any human rights abuse: to call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice in accordance with internationally recognized standards of justice.

In situations where civil liberties may be curtailed in order to limit or prevent future acts of terror, AI also plays an important role in raising awareness and understanding of fundamental human rights principles and safeguards such as the prohibition against torture that must be protected without condition or exception.

Why is Amnesty so concerned about the rights of Taleban fighters and members of Al Qaeda?

Whatever they have done -- or are accused of doing -- they are still human beings. The underlying principle of international human rights is that all people have certain basic rights simply because they are human. These rights, like their humanity itself, must never be taken away.

Isn't it hypocritical of Amnesty to talk about the rights of Taleban members, when the Taleban was responsible for abusing the rights of so many people in Afghanistan?

It would be hypocritical of us not to. Amnesty speaks out against human rights violations in every instance. We don't pick and chose whose rights we defend or which violators we criticize.

A better question is, why did the world's governments do so little to protest the human rights violations by the Taleban or to the protect their victims. And are the world's governments doing enough to prevent continued human rights violations in the new Afghanistan?