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International jurists bewail damage to law by U.S. war on terrorism

The IHT, from Geneva, reports on what ought to trouble all citizens, be they in so-called repressive regimes or in so-called democratic states. What is increasingly being done by Governments under the banner of or in the name of fighting terrorism is cause for great concern - as, in many respects, what have been seen as liberties taken for granted are steadily eroded. And then there are still the pernicious practices of renditioning or detaining people without charge. Many countries - think the US, many Middle East countries including Israel and former Eastern European Communist nations - engage in or are willing participants in these outrageous acts.

"The U.S. war on terror has done "immense damage" to international law, lacks a credible legal basis and should be repudiated by the administration of President Barack Obama, a panel of eminent judges and lawyers said Monday.

The panel, organized by the International Commission of Jurists, a nongovernmental human rights group, also criticized the culture of secrecy associated with the violation of international laws, which it said afforded impunity to those acting unlawfully.

The report also said abuses were becoming pervasive in democratic as well as repressive states.

The panel based its assessment on a three-year study of terrorism and counterterrorism practices on behalf of the commission that took evidence from hundreds of witnesses in 40 countries. The chairman, Arthur Chaskalson, a former chief justice of South Africa, described the report as "the most extensive study of these issues yet conducted."

Read on here.

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