Human Rights Watch Accused Lebanese Police of Torture

Torture is practiced so commonly by Lebanese police that it’s considered a waste of time to report it. A new report issued by Human Rights Watch said that “vulnerable populations” including gays, drug users and prostitutes are particularly victimized by “verbal abuse, degradation and humiliation” at police stations. The accused are typically beaten into submission, the report says. Of 52 prisoners interviewed by HRW, only six filed complaints against the police. The rights group offered suggestions for improving the situation, including the withholding of international funding to those parts of the security apparatus responsible for the behavior in question.