HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS MURDER OF AID WORKER IN IRAQ

17 November 2004


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today condemned in the strongest terms the murder of aid worker Margaret Hassan in Iraq, saying there was no possible justification for such a cowardly act.

“Margaret Hassan devoted her life to helping Iraqis, and her murder, which sadly seems to have occurred, is indicative of the contempt in which her killers hold the people of Iraq”, Mrs. Arbour said.

The High Commissioner added that Mrs. Hassan’s murder was, “tragically only the latest in a series of despicable criminal actions in the country targeting Iraqis and foreigners alike”. She called for the immediate release of all hostages – Iraqis and foreigners, including journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, as well as Teresa Borcz Khalifa -- and for an end to indiscriminate attacks on civilians by armed individuals and groups.

“No political or religious cause can justify abductions, bombings and other criminal activities such as are being witnessed on a daily basis in Iraq”, she said. “This senseless violence cannot be condemned strongly enough and it must stop. Meanwhile, every effort should be made to identify the perpetrators and to bring them to justice”.