SOMALIA: MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY FOR MINORITY GROUPS-RIGHTS BODY
By Aaron Kirunda.

SomaliNet, Somalia
March 21 2007

(SomaliNet) Somalia has overtaken Iraq as the world’s most dangerous
country for minority groups, a study has found.

"A new government in Somalia has raised hopes for democracy, but it
is also a uniquely dangerous time," said MRG’s director Mark Lattimer.

"There is the spectre of a return of large-scale clan violence – and
groups that supported the old order are now under tremendous threat."

He added.

Sudan, Afghanistan and Burma followed in the global survey by the
Minority Rights Group International (MRG).

It alleges the US ignored abuses of minorities in countries supporting
the US "war on terror" including Pakistan, Turkey and Israel. "US
allies have managed to barter their support for the war on terror
in return for having their human rights records ignored," said
Mr. Lattimer.

Sudan is the third worst offender, said the State of the World’s
Minorities report, because of the violence in Darfur.

Minority groups in Iraq including Christians, Yezidis and Mandaeans
face targeted killings, abductions and torture.

The group’s study links tensions in Turkey surrounding the EU
accession process to a surge in religious and nationalist extremism
behind attacks on minorities – such as the murder of Turkish-Armenian
writer Hrant Dink at the end of 2006.

The MRG also blames the "war on terror" for a rise in anti-Muslim
attacks and intimidation within the European Union affecting millions
of ethnic Arabs, South Asians and other Muslim minorities.