The current human rights conditions in Iraq are no better than that during Saddam Hussein's rule, even worse, Iraqi former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was recently quoted as saying, citing secret trials by secret police, inquisition by torture and illegal execution. His remark, as a matter of fact, was targeting Iraq's civil affairs officials.

According to a report recently released by UN special team in Iraq, human rights conditions in this country remain quite severe. The basic rights of the people are unprotected and civilians are suffering significantly from Iraq's anti-US militant attacks and security operations by related sides. The "related sides" mentioned here, in fact, mainly refer to the US-Britain coalition forces. Last year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights listed in a report acts by the coalition forces in serious violation of human rights, such as prisoner abusing, illegal arrest and killing, woman violating and looting. Not long ago, the US troops stationed in Iraq shot a family of five, adding a testimony to the above-mentioned report.

Two trials are seemingly going on in today's Iraq: trial on former president Saddam Hussein, which reopened on November 28; and trial on all kinds of atrocities in a post-Saddam time. The former is a trial of law over "historical issues", the latter is one of public opinion over "realistic questions". The two trials, going on at the same time but in different forms, can easily be associated with each other. If Saddam is sentenced for violation of human rights, how would realities in today's Iraq be assessed and put before the trial of history?

Actually three categories of people came under charge in UN's repot on human rights conditions in Iraq. First, the "revolting militants" in Iraq, whose attacks regardless of civilian lives bear a tinge of terror. Second, certain departments and individuals in the Iraqi government, since they have long been blinded by old religious or ethnic grudges and cherish no tradition of respect for human rights. Third and the biggest, is the US-British coalition forces: they are the creator of the current conditions in Iraq, as well as the practitioner of various atrocities.

The human rights problems the US-led forces caused in Iraq are by no means coming from nothing. First of all, the war itself is unjustified in international law, which will inevitably lead to difficulties of reconstruction and a situation of "chaos". Second, under the dominance of western culture, it's simply impossible for the culturally arrogant coalition forces to respect Iraqi culture and customs, therefore cultural clash is unavoidable. Third, the US troops are there as occupiers and during a time of chaos it's easy for the dark side of human nature to come out.

When launched war on Iraq Washington played the card of "security threat", which was later shattered by facts. Then, the card of "democracy and human rights" was played, which is now also being shattered by the behavior of the occupying forces. The United States once bravely swung the stick of "human rights", but now, unfortunately, the stick falls upon itself.

In Iraq's human rights tragedy, ordinary people are direct victims. They suffer under both the original power structure and the collapse of the structure. They are not players of various kinds of power games, but are suffering from all the disastrous results brought about.

This article by People's Daily senior editor Huang Qing is carried on the third page of People's Daily, November 29, and is translated by People's Daily Online.