Amnesty International (AI) is deeply concerned about the safety of hundreds of thousands of Kurds, Arab Shi’a Muslims and others in Iraq whom it fears may be at serious risk of grave human rights violations. In April/May 1991 AI delegates interviewed over 500 refugees in Turkey, Iran and northern Iraq who provided consistent reports of widespread abuses against those suspected of participating in the uprising against the present government. AI welcomes measures already taken by the United Nations (UN) but urges the UN to reinforce these by taking steps to address the human rights concerns outlined in this paper. AI recommends the establishment, under UN auspices and control, of an ongoing human rights monitoring operation in Iraq.
