afrol News, 9 December - Cairo based human rights group says the Arab world has flawed the human rights in the current year.

The report commissioned by the independent Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies which surveyed 12 countries including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia said the most common forms of repression are human rights violations, press freedom and discrimination against religious minorities.

The report titled ‘Bastion of Impunity, Mirage of Reform’ said human rights situation has worsened compared to 2008. It said Arab governments are linked to a broad array of repressive laws that undermine basic liberties compared to the previous year.

Egypt and Syria were singled out as leading offenders, with Cairo said to lead the region in practicing torture and Damascus for repressing rights activists.

"Egypt continued to top the list of countries in which torture is routinely and systematically practised," it said, adding that dozens had died in the country of torture or excessive force by police.

The report added that gains achieved by the political opposition and civil society over the last five years have now become targets of attack by the Arab governments.

The rights group partially blames the United States government, saying US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton failed to address the issue during a meeting with her Arab counterparts in Morocco last month.

Religious and ethnic minorities also continued to suffer discrimination in several Arab countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, according to the report.

Arab states are reknowned for using excessive force and torture to suspected terrorists in the region.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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