Afghan Human Rights group on 'foreign forces'

Reuters has circulated an interview with Sima Samar, the head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), in which he speaks mostly of the culture of human rights in Afghanistan. One of his answers speaks to the issue of perceived violations by 'foreign forces.'

Q: Do you know of human rights violations by foreign forces based in Afghanistan?

A: Yes, we have recorded some violations by the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. After the issue of prison abuse in Iraq we had a similar case by coalition forces in Gardez [a southeastern city]. It was reported as "dishonouring and insulting" a prisoner. But when we investigated, unfortunately it was similar to the Iraq prison abuse. We sent a letter to coalition forces in Kabul, but unfortunately they did not reply nor let us have access to the coalition detention centres in Afghanistan.

We have [noted] around 120 to 140 violations by coalition forces, including prison abuse, entering people's houses in violent ways and the frisking of women by a male, which was reduced after serious complaints.