PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

INDICT Welcomes Olympic Investigation, Calls for Urgent Action

London, 21 February 2003

INDICT, a London-based human rights organisation that works for prosecution of Iraqi war criminals, welcomed the announcement by the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee that it has launched a serious investigation into Indict's complaint against the Iraqi National Olympic Committee ("INOC") and its President, Uday Saddam Hussein. The announcement was made by the President of the Ethics Commission, Judge Keba Mbaye, at the IOC Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland yesterday. The IOC Executive Committee endorsed the Ethics Commission's decision to launch the investigation.

"We are pleased that the IOC Ethics Commission is taking this investigation seriously," said Charles Forrest, Indict's Chief Executive Officer. "At the same time, however, we believe that the IOC must take urgent action against the INOC and Uday Saddam Hussein. Our complaint alleges murder, torture and massive corruption - violations of 11 different provisions of the IOC Code of Ethics. The IOC should not wait for a full investigation; it should act immediately to protect Iraqi athletes from further abuse."

INDICT's complaint was filed with the Ethics Commission on 5 December 2002. It includes sworn affidavits from athletes who were tortured and is supported by reports from Amnesty International and the United Nations. Since the complaint was filed, numerous other athletes have come forward with similar stories of mistreatment. Iraq's Olympic Committee headquarters reportedly contains a prison and torture chamber where Uday, Saddam Hussein's eldest son, routinely tortures athletes and Olympic employees.

For additional information contact:

INDICT
+44-207-840-0190
info@indict.org.uk