Despite Terrorism, Standards Must Be Maintained

Representatives of Germany's Human Rights Forum say that the fight against terrorism has become an excuse for violating human rights, but that despite the cruelty of terrorist attacks, human rights standards must be maintained.

photo: AP — Madrid on the day of the terrorist attack, 11 March 2004

Human rights activists have a tough job, especially in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. But they are a dedicated group of people, and tend to work harder when faced with a challenge. That was evident again when human rights activists gathered at the 10th anniversary of the Human Rights Forum, a network of more than 40 German non-governmental organizations.

Despite fighting for specific causes, together their mission is to protect human rights across the globe, in specific regions, and also in Germany. Many activists argue that following the September 11th terrorist attacks in the U.S., the human rights situation has become even more precarious. The fight against terrorism has become an excuse for violating human rights, says Barbara Lochbihler, Human Rights Forum spokeswoman and Head of the German Section of Amnesty International.

Ignoring International Law

"Especially in the way the U.S. basically ignored the U.N.," says Lochbihler. "There was no Security Council resolution. The U.S. did not stick to international law. And things have stayed that way in terms of human rights and the Quantanamo Bay prisoner issue. The United States has placed itself above the law, even above the Geneva Convention and how it defines how countries are supposed to treat war prisoners," says Lochbihler.

But other countries are also known to abuse human rights in the name of combating terrorism. National security is often given priority over individual rights, and human rights violations in China, Libya, Pakistan, and Chechnya, say activists of the Human Rights Forum, are not made public. The NGOs claim even Germany, in stepping up its security policies, is walling itself off from the rest of the world in terms of immigration and political asylum. Even though granting asylum is an international responsibility, says the managing director of Pro Asylum, Günther Burkhardt.

Political Asylum is also a part of the human rights agenda

"It is precisely the current SPD-Greens government that is pushing for laws on a European level that would make Europe refugee-free," says Burkhardt. "How can I fight for human rights world-wide when I see that the richest continent in the world is trying to close its doors? That doesn't foster trust. The German foreign minister must get involved in this national debate on asylum. And we want German politicians to see that national policies concerning political asylum have a global dimension for human-rights," says Burkhardt.

But Claudia Roth, Greens Party politician and the German government's Commissioner for Human Rights, believes Germany still takes a strong stand on human rights internationally.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the German government realizes that the human rights issue is important in terms of foreign policy and business," she says. "And that it doesn't see standing up for human rights as purely an act of altruism, but also as a responsibility that benefits the country."

Responding to Thursday's terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spain, Amnesty International has said the bombings could constitute a crime against humanity under international law. But, the organization also said on its Website that "the perpetrators should be brought promptly to justice in proceedings that meet international standards."

Amnesty International called for the perpetrators to be brought promptly to justice in proceedings which meet international standards. "We must be compassionate in our support for the victims, determined in our search for justice and vigilant about the rights of all people," the organization said.