Terrorism war erodes human rights, Amnesty International says

LONDON -- The United States and governments around the world have used the post-Sept. 11 war on terrorism to erode human rights and stifle political dissent, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

In its annual state-of-the-world report, the organization said emergency anti-terrorist legislation and changes in trial and detention procedures had contributed to an atmosphere of repression and undermined universal principles of human rights.

"What happened on Sept. 11 was a crime against humanity, a gross human rights violation of thousands of people," said Amnesty's secretary-general, Irene Khan.

However, she said, "in the days, weeks and months that followed, governments around the world eroded human rights in the name of security and anti-terrorism."

The London-based rights group said countries from India and Pakistan to Malaysia and Singapore had introduced repressive security legislation in the aftermath of Sept. 11.