The WSJ continues:

Or who in Europe has heard of Soghra, an Iranian woman sentenced in October to death by stoning for adultery? Or Mokhtar N. and Ali A., hanged last month in a public square in Iran for homosexuality?

In much of Europe's public debate, the true meaning of human rights has degenerated into a tool that gives anti-Americanism an aura of legitimacy. The real, horrendous human-rights violations in the Middle East, North Korea, China, Cuba, etc., are largely ignored or relegated to news blurs on the back pages. For front-page coverage, you need an American angle.
It is often said that this has nothing to do with anti-Americanism but with the fact that democracies, such as the U.S., must be held to higher standards. Really? Let's look at some recent European violations of human rights.

In October, the European Council's Commissioner for Human Rights inspected what the French call a detention center for foreigners. Alvaro Gil-Robles believes it is more properly called a dungeon.

The WSJ criticizes the lack of media coverage of these allegations and asks its readers to imagine the moral outcries if the US had been involved and provides more examples of double standards. You can read the entire WSJ article Europe's 'Moral Outrage' for free. You don't have to be a subscriber, but you need to register for free. (Hat tip Davids Medienkritik)

UPDATE 12/06/2005:
Transatlanticist and Feldnotizen have picked up this story and comment in English. DIE ZEIT's Kosmoblog ways in in German. Thank you!