Friday, January 24, 2014

Widespread torture in Syria

I got this from Amnesty International:

https://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.6662481/k.2BA2/Donate_Now/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?msource=W1401EDCPR1

Dear Tracy,

Beaten, burned, bruised, strangled bodies lying on a dirty floor. Some show signs of starvation, others are missing their eyes. A number of them appear to have been electrocuted.

The horror is nearly impossible to describe.

Thousands of photographs leaked to the media this week provide evidence of the torture and killing of around 11,000 individuals detained in Syria between the start of the uprising in 2011 and August last year.

We must act now to prevent others from being subjected to such abuses. During the international peace conference on Syria – which is convening now in Geneva – Amnesty is drawing a line in the sand. Make a donation to support this work.

Leaders at the conference must demand that Syrian authorities release peaceful activists in detention and grant access to human rights groups to investigate reported violations and monitor the treatment of detainees.

They must also keep the pressure on armed opposition groups to ensure they release civilians and treat captured soldiers and all others in detention humanely.

While we cannot authenticate the images, the allegations are consistent with Amnesty International's own research into the widespread use of torture and enforced disappearances by the Syrian authorities, as well as deaths in custody.

The horrific photos are heartbreaking testimony to the need for human rights and justice to be put at the top of the Geneva agenda.

The evidence of crimes against humanity is staring world leaders in the face. Help make sure they don't look away. Donate now.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Mock
Country Specialist, Syria
Amnesty International USA

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