Expressing Concern Regarding Violation of Human Rights by Syria

EXPRESSING CONCERN REGARDING VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY SYRIA -- (House of Representatives - March 16, 2005)

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, while I rise in support of this resolution, I do so with serious concerns.

Torture is a crime and a vile human rights abuse. Syria should be condemned in the strongest possible terms for committing acts of torture against detainees and prisoners. This is why I support the resolution. Yet, the fact that our government has sent detainees to Syria knowing that these individuals would be tortured and abused is morally repugnant and violates international, as well as U.S., law.

The practice of extraordinary rendition-our government's practice of outsourcing torture to countries like Syria must also be condemned, repudiated and immediately ordered stopped by President Bush. Human Rights Watch, which is frequently cited as an authoritative source in this resolution, has stated that the U.S. policy of "denouncing torture in Syria, and then handing over prisoners to Syrian torturers sends the ultimate mixed message."

Syria is a notorious violator of human rights that should be condemned. The hypocrisy of our government using Syrian torturers as a subcontractor to immorally and illegally commit human rights abuses is shamefully absent from this resolution.

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