UN: Torture in Iraq may be worse now than under Saddam

Torture in Iraq may be worse now than it was under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the United Nations’ chief anti-torture expert said today, describing a situation where militias, terrorist groups, government forces and others disregard rules on the humane treatment of prisoners.

“What most people tell you is that the situation as far as torture is concerned now in Iraq is totally out of hand,” said Manfred Nowak, the global body’s special investigator on torture.