Casablanca, Morocco - The Bush administration's announcement of new rules governing interrogations of prisoners is a step in the right direction. A major lesson can be drawn from the decision: public denouncements can work. To be sure, not all regimes using torture are highly sensitive to public opinion. Yet none of them is completely insensitive to its reputation either with nationals or the international community.
Deterring regimes around the world from using torture requires raising the cost of using torture and
lowering the cost of denouncing torture. Many NGO's are doing an excellent job at exposing the misdeeds of countries abusing human rights. Their voice should be heard more often and louder. They inform the citizens of democratic countries who can in turn pressure their government to act. That's raising the cost of using torture. On the other hand raising the profile of those nationals of non-democratic countries who take huge risks in denouncing their regimes is key. It leverages their position in a situation where the balance of power is usually and greatly not in their favor. Online forums like this one can serve the purpose of informing those who can take up cases and give the necessary exposure that'll make the cost of abusing human rights higher.
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Comments (5)
Mr. Aboubakr:
As a Moroccan I highly appreciate the integrity of your newspaper. I understand that it is not a cake walk to expose our government abuses but rest assured that the people will always be behind you.
The shameful Moroccan government has been cooperating with the US government in terms of outsourcing torture to Morocco.
This immoral practiced must be stopped and exposed.
September 11, 2006 12:07 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on September 11, 2006 00:07
correction: This immoral practice
September 11, 2006 12:09 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on September 11, 2006 00:09
I thank the WP for giving a great Moroccan editor, a chance to go global. Online media and blogs are playing huge roles in exposing human rights abuse and supporting victims of torture. I hope this trend will continue especially in countries like ours (Morocco) where torture is a common practice and the Internet is gradually being censured.
September 15, 2006 10:58 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on September 15, 2006 10:58
The more voices on this issue the louder to be heard. Thank you for adding your authoritative voice.
September 26, 2006 8:08 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on September 26, 2006 20:08
Outsourcing torture to countries of the MENA region is an insult to people in those countries, and the idea that people are used to be tortured there, is totally false .No one is used to humiliation. Democracy is taking place in moroccan heads and it's an irreversible reaction.
October 2, 2006 8:08 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 2, 2006 20:08