Posted on 09/09/2006 5:33:23 PM PDT by saquin
The notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad is at the centre of fresh abuse allegations just a week after it was handed over to Iraqi authorities, with claims that inmates are being tortured by their new captors.
Inside the 100-yard long cell block the smell of excrement was overpowering. Four to six prisoners shared each of the 12ft by 15ft cells along either side and the walls were smeared with filth. The cell block was patrolled by guards who carried long batons and shouted angrily at the prisoners to stand up.
Access to the part of the prison containing terrorism suspects was denied, but from that block came the sound of screaming. The screaming continued for a long time.
"I am sure someone was being beaten, they were screaming like they were being hit," the witness reported. "I felt scared, I was asking what was happening in the terrorist section.
"I heard shouting, like someone had a hot iron on their body, screams. The officer said they were just screaming by themselves. I was hearing the screams throughout the visit."
The witness said that even in the thieves' section prisoners were being treated badly. "Someone was shouting 'Please help us, we want the human rights officers, we want the Americans to come back'," he said.
Prisoners interviewed in the presence of their jailers said they were frightened for their safety. They complained that chicken and milk had been cut from their rations, leaving them on rice and water. They also complained about the oppressive heat.
Outside the prison, relatives of some of the inmates said they were being tortured by their captors. One woman, who gave her name as Omsaad, said: "My son Saad [who was arrested in Fallujah as a suspected insurgent] said he is being tortured by the Iraqis to confess the name of his leader. I met my son and he told me they were being treated badly by the Iraqis."
Haleem Aleulami, who was released from the jail last week, three weeks after being arrested in Ramadi for carrying a pistol in his car, said the Americans had treated him better when they ran the jail. He claimed that visits from the International Red Cross staff had dried up and accused local human rights workers of being members of Shia groups who turned a blind eye to problems in the jail.
"The people are Iraqis and they are members of the Sciri and al Dawa parties. They have a good relationship with the leaders of the jail and they keep quiet," he said. The guards swore at the ordinary prisoners, he said, but those in the terrorist section were treated more brutally.
"The guards were swearing at us, but in the terrorist section they were beating them. I heard it all the time. Everyone knows what is happening."
And Khalid Alaani, who was also picked up in Ramadi suspected of involvement in Sunni terrorism, said: "We preferred the Americans. We asked to move with them to Baghdad airport because we knew the treatment would be changed because we know what the Iraqis are. When the Americans left everything changed."
Staff at the jail said that the prisoners were allowed out from their cells for only 15 to 20 minutes a day because of the danger from the regular mortar attacks. They are no longer allowed access to the main hall where the Americans had allowed them to watch television and the room is now reserved for the use of officers and guards. Staff explained that the air conditioning in the cell blocks had broken, although it was working in their quarters.
One officer, Capt Ali Abdelzaher, said: "We have a problem with the financing for the food, not like the Americans, and there is a technical problem with the air conditioning."
Capt Abdelzaher also confirmed that a number of inmates had been transferred from the Jadriyah detention centre, along with their guards and interrogators.
Graphic stories of abuse at that previously secret facility emerged after US soldiers found 169 prisoners showing signs of torture last November.
Most of the prisoners held by the Americans at Abu Ghraib were either released in recent months or transferred to a new £32 million detention centre at Camp Cropper near Baghdad International Airport.
Yesterday, the International Red Cross confirmed that its visits to the prison had been suspended since January 2005 on security grounds.
Well, the Sunday Telegraph, which is no coservative publication, reported on it.
I don't see how guards could stand the smell of human excrement. Why not at least make the prisoners keep the place clean? I mean, torture them in a clean cell rather than a stinky cell.
If the Iraqis are going to act like animals...LET 'EM.
What? They've taken the Lemon Chicken off the dinner menu?
Somebody call the NYT so they'll run this on their front page for 63 days straight. I will stand right here on one foot waiting for that to happen...
Good catch tet.
"Someone was shouting 'Please help us, we want the human rights officers, we want the Americans to come back'," he said.
Be careful what you terrorize for. Two Allah Akbars for you.
Yes, from people with a warped perspective.
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it isn't the guards smearing the walls with poo. If the prisioners want to put poo on the walls, why should the guards clean it up? Poo on the wall says more about the prisioners than the captors.
Justice
Careful what you ask for - you wanted the Americans out, well...
Pure schadenfreude on this one.
Now that we are standing up the Iraqi Police and the IA, I've got a feeling there are going to be fewer "prisoners".
A whole lot fewer.
Body bags may be in short supply, though.
Priceless.
"Allah, how I miss those sunny afternoons playing nekkid dogpile and posing for dirty pictures. You know, Abdul, life was grand when the Americans were here."
Oh well.
Every CULTURE is different ... what's a little diversity in prison life?
They'll adjust.
Same reason I don't.
I'm amused.
Scream louder.
Wow where to begin. Looks like our attempt to train the Iraqi army to control their prisons failed. Makes one wonder as to what ELSE will fall apart as our guys stand down.
I get a real kick out of those on this thread who are APPLAUDING prisoners being treated in this manner. While having your orgasim, keep in mind that our troops are fighting and dying to ensure that the Iraqis become confident towards and support this infant government. This type of neglect and cruelty aint gonna help. Unless of course you're just interested in inflicting suffering.
And I thought I had seen just about everything........
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