Prizewinning Abu Ghraib film: wake-up call for UN anti-torture Day

3.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jun 2008

Marking the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP will help present a special screening in Brussels on June 24th of a prizewinning film on the abuses at Abu Ghraib.

'Standard Operating Procedure', directed by Oscar winner Errol Morris, won the Silver Bear grand prize at the 2008 Berlinale film festival. The screening is by Sony Pictures with the support of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims.

Sarah Ludford, the UK Liberal Democrats' European justice spokeswoman, commented:

"I am honoured to be invited to introduce this impressive film which in examining the torture perpetrated on Iraqis at Abu Ghraib raises broad questions about power, legality, morality and responsibility, including our own."

"We have a duty and obligation to hold to account those who commit gross injustices, which are sadly common across the world but were not to be expected from the United States. America entered Iraq proudly waving the banner of liberty, freedom, and democracy yet it is now cloaked in a flag of shame."

"Standard Operating Procedure is an honest and depressingly brutal exposition of the sad legacy of George Bush. But we cannot blame a few 'bad apples'. The film demands exploration of how we let our own European governments commit or collude in torture and cruel treatment and thus degrade our claim to be 'civilised' nations."