(Brussels) – The bomb attacks at Brussels’ Zaventem airport and on the Brussels metro on March 22, 2016, constitute despicable acts of violence, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks killed dozens and wounded many more, according to official sources. No group had claimed responsibility at the time of writing.
In the past 10 days, deadly attacks have also killed and injured scores of people in Turkey and Cote d’Ivoire.
“Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones, and to the many victims of these gruesome and despicable attacks,” said Lotte Leicht, European Union director at Human Rights Watch. “At this moment of horror, these outrages to our core principles provide all the more reason to protect human rights and the rule of law.”
Human Rights Watch called on Belgian authorities to respond with a strong commitment to the rule of law and human rights in their efforts to prevent further attacks and possible acts of retaliation against communities and individuals.
“We need to protect the human rights principles that extremists are flouting,” Leicht said. “That is our common challenge.”
