Thursday, May 24, 2007
posted by @netwurker at 7:40 am
"Amnesty International says there has been a downward spiral of human rights worldwide, fuelled by what it calls the "politics of fear" following terrorist attacks in the US in 2001.

Amnesty says the the war in Iraq and what the United States calls its "war on terror" have led to an erosion of human rights and deep divisions across the world.

The group also criticises the repression of Europe's Roma communities, saying politicians are using fear of immigration and terrorism to justify tough measures against refugees and asylum seekers.

In a statement, the secretary-general of Amnesty International, Irene Khan, said minorities around the world were under threat.

"We've seen a wave of xenophobia and racism against groups like Roma, we've seen a rise of Islamophobia and anti-semitism on the back of fear about security, about terrorism," she said.

"So in this way, what we see is a world enveloped in fear and fear being used by governments to create false certainties to avoid accountability."

- BBC"

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