Iraq wants to put torturers on trial

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq's human rights ministry says it wants to put on trial torturers who benefit from full immunity despite what it says are dozens of proven cases of abuse in the country's prisons.

"We call on the government and judicial authorities to ensure the protection of prisoners, to punish torturers and not to include them on amnesty lists," said Saad Sultan, head of the ministry's prisons supervision service.

Iraq, which on Sunday announced it has ratified the UN convention against torture, has no law against the practice.

"It's true that there is no specific law but they (torturers) could be charged for voluntary blows and injuries," the senior official told AFP late Monday.

He said 121 "proven cases" of detainees -- including three women...