Egypt, Syria, Iraq used 2014 turmoil to abuse rights - report

Police keep guard in a vehicle as others disperse an anti-government demonstration in Mataryya area, east of Cairo January 25, 2015. REUTERS/Al Youm Al Saabi Newspaper

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The governments of Egypt, Syria and Iraq used real and perceived security threats in 2014 as an excuse to downplay or abandon the rights of their citizens, which ultimately fuelled crises, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.

In its annual review of global human rights, the group said security forces across the globe are ignoring rights in dealing with threats, such as China’s crackdown on Uighurs in Xinjiang, Mexico’s war on drugs and Nigeria's fight against Boko Haram.