Sir, The demonstrations in London reflect widespread hostility to the United States Administration’s policies on Iraq and the Middle East; and now we have had two further atrocities in Istanbul (reports, November 21). There have also been disturbing signs of growing anti-Semitism, such as the earlier attacks against synagogues in Istanbul and on a Jewish school in Paris.

Although the Coalition’s policies on Iraq have undoubtedly been the main focus of opposition in this country, there is little doubt that the continuing crisis in Israel and the Occupied Territories remains one of the principal sources of anti-Western and anti-Jewish resentment in the Arab and Muslim world.

The reported remarks on Israel and the Palestinians by President Bush in his public speeches during the state visit have shown some awareness that US policies need to be adjusted if the President’s undertaking to Mr Blair in Belfast — that he would put as much effort towards the “road map” for the Palestinian peace process as Mr Blair had put into the Northern Ireland peace process (report, April 9) — is to be fulfilled.

But unless this awareness is converted into a genuine commitment on the ground, the President’s speeches will have little effect on the horrors being committed by both sides in the Arab-Israel dispute. A genuine American commitment, and positive action, to revive the peace process would do more than anything else to reduce attacks on the Coalition, and anti-Semitism, both in this country and more widely.

Yours sincerely,
PATRICK WRIGHT,
House of Lords.
November 21.

From the Executive Director of Redress

Sir, I feel it imperative to demonstrate the extent to which the US Government has, since 9/11, departed from the fundamental human rights that underpin democracy. Since the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 there have been many incidents of torture, committed or enabled, by US authorities in Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt and Syria, all well documented.

One records the death of two Afghan detainees last December at the US military base in Bagram. Autopsy reports suggest torture as a cause (Imbalance of Powers: How changes to US law and policy since 9/11 erode human rights and civil liberties, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, March, 2003).

In another case a Canadian citizen, detained at JFK airport, was deported from the US to Syria, where he was reportedly beaten and threatened with electric shock, despite his fear of torture (USA: Deporting for Torture, Amnesty International, AI Index: AMR 51/139/2003, November 14).

These examples, with allegations of torture and ill-treatment in Iraq, indicate that the US is lowering its human-rights standards. Redress’s experience shows that torture damages individuals and their families. One result can be a murderous desire to get justice. That desire is often called terrorism.

Yours faithfully,
FRANCES D’SOUZA,
Executive Director,
Redress (Seeking Reparation for Torture Survivors),
3rd Floor,
87 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5HJ.
November 21.

From Mr K. A. J. Richmond

Sir, I was in London today and witnessed the demonstrations against President Bush and the United States. I fail to understand why there never seem to be demonstrations against atrocities such as those that took place in Istanbul today.

Yours faithfully,
KENNETH RICHMOND,
17 Essex Gardens,
Hornchurch, Essex RM11 3EJ.
November 20.

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