MARFA, Texas -- Amnesty International has released a report that details physical and psychological torture of women arrested by Mexico's army and police.
This reinforces the United Nations' conclusionthat torture is commonplace in Mexico. In April, a video was leaked showing Mexican police and soldiers suffocating a woman with a plastic bag while interrogating her.
What happened after the camera was turned off is unclear. The video sparked revulsion across Mexico and provoked a public apology from the Minister of Defense. The Associated Press reports the woman is in prison on weapons charges. Amnesty Int'l has released a report suggesting what was seen on that video is almost certainly not a lone event.
Amnesty Int'l interviewed 100 women in 19 states across Mexico who reported violence during their arrests. All described some form of sexual harassment or psychological abuse, including misogynist insults and threats in the hours that followed. 33 said they had been raped. The report was released as Mexican President Peña Nieto traveled to Canada for the "Three Amigos" summit to meet President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As of June 29 2016, Mexico had not responded to the report.
- Lorne Matalon