November 04, 2004

Russian Leaders Call for Taking Terrorists' Families Hostage

Last week Pravda reported that Russia's Prosecutor General, Vladimir Ustinov, suggested that a part of any future Russian special forces anti-terrorism contingency plan may be to take hostage-takers' families hostage. The comments were made during a session of Russia's lower parliamentary house, the Duma, earlier this week.

The St. Petersburg Times translates his suggestion this way: "Detaining relatives and showing terrorists what may happen to their relatives could help save people's lives, so let's not close our eyes or put a diplomatic face on it. When you live by the sword, you die by the sword."

Although his speech was met by applause, the suggestion seemed to have been met negatively in the Russian press. However, one important figure that has endorsed the plan is the Russian backed President of Chechnya, Alu Alkhanov. One source translates his endorsement: "We should do everything allowed by law, I think." He added that if the Duma were to pass such a law, then he would support it.

Chechnya's representative to the Russian Duma also chimed in: "Every terrorist has relatives, and they should bare responsibility for the criminal acts of their family members."

The reaction from the world community seems to be to unanimously condemn Ustinov's statements. Reuters, which has a special news service devoted to human rights abuses, reports that UN human rights experts have expressed concern:

Leila Zerrougui, chair of the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention, and Stephen Toope, head of the U.N. working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, said this would "run counter to the principles of international law".

"Detaining innocent people as hostages of the state in order to combat abductions and terrorism is contrary to the most elemental international human rights principles and norms," the independent experts said in a joint statement.

I do not endorse such tactics, but it seems odd that the UN would condemn what is really just an idea (probably with no chance of actually becoming policy) with such force and outrage, while they turn a blind eye and give official sanction to terrorists who actually engage in the practice of hostage taking and murder. I'm looking at you soon-to-be corpse Yasser Arafat and friends.

Linked at the BTJ, because I think it's a cool story and word should get out.