France says abuse of Iraqi prisoners unacceptable

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L05496604.htm

France says abuse of Iraqi prisoners unacceptable

PARIS, May 5 (Reuters) - France said on Wednesday the reported abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces was "totally unacceptable" and if confirmed would clearly violate international conventions.

France led the opposition against the U.S.-led war in Iraq and French President Jacques Chirac last week reiterated a call for a swift return of sovereignty to Iraq within the framework set out by the United Nations.

"The treatment inflicted on certain Iraqi prisoners, such as are shown on pictures displayed by media in the last few days, are totally unacceptable," the French foreign ministry said.

The abuse scandal blew up last week when a U.S. television station aired photographs that were taken by some of the six soldiers now facing court-martial for abusing prisoners.

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against Muslims in France. It's nice that they are speaking out about the American torture in Iraq but maybe they should spend a little more time respecting Arab people in their own country.

and tortuting and murdering Iraqi POW aren't exactly in the same category

A regulation on attire in public schools is hardly the same as torturing POWs in another country.
Nor is the French law racist: it is not discriminatory, all religions are handled exactly the same.

was necessary to keep the peace. You can't compare that to the torture of Iraqi prisoners."

Here's an old story from the BBC


"Tuesday, 9 January, 2001, 15:07 GMT
France confronts Algeria torture claims

By James Coomarasamy in Paris

Fresh allegations have emerged about the use of torture by French troops during the Algerian war.

The torture debate has been reopened by senior officers, one of whom has admitted to executing more than 20 Algerians personally.

It has long been common knowledge that French troops tortured Algerians, but France has never acknowledged it publicly.

more here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1108014.stm

the torture was equilvilant to what the French laws are. The laws are discriminatory. The ACLU has been all over people who have tried ot ban headscarves in America. And if Bush passed a law liek this the people here would be the first to call him a fascist. People here are so forgiving of Europe's problems yet have nothing good to say for America. Both have their problems.