Iraqi Prisoner Abuse: Part of a Pattern of US Human Rights Violations?

By Afroz Ali

More chilling new evidence of the torture and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers emerged this week in a secret report accusing the US army leadership of failings at the highest levels. Reports suggest that US policy in the frontlines encourage intimidation of arrested Iraqis, who live to tell the tale to families, developing fear among Iraqi civilians.

Detainees were subjected to “sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses,” according to independent investigations suggesting that last week’s photographs of US soldiers humiliating their naked captives may only have been the tip of the iceberg. The US military has been quick to hold their own “investigations” implying that these horrific acts were beyond their control.

According to the American report, written for army chiefs by Major General Antonio Taguba, detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad were threatened with rape, beaten with a broom handle and a chair, and had the phosphoric liquid from chemical lights poured over them. One detainee is said to have been sodomised with an object, while military working dogs were used to intimidate detainees.

The 53-page report, obtained by New Yorker reporter Seymour Hersh, details how the US army abdicated responsibility for prisoners to military intelligence units and civilian contractors. Independent analysts suggest that the so-called “civilian contractors” are a front to remove responsibility from the US government and military.

This comes amid reports that six British soldiers may shortly be arrested over claims that they too mistreated detainees. Soldiers from the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment have reportedly been questioned in Cyprus after the publication of shocking photographs purporting to show a prisoner being beaten, kicked and urinated on while in the regiment’s custody.

British forces, with fewer relatively untrained reservists than the Americans, were thought to be more disciplined. But the publication of the photographs in the Daily Mirror, apparently showing the violent humiliation of an Iraqi arrested for theft in the British-administered sector, have dealt an appalling blow both to the battle for hearts and minds in Iraq and to army morale.

Tony Blair condemned abuse by coalition forces as completely unacceptable, adding, “I think anyone would be sickened by any thought that coalition troops had abused Iraqi prisoners,” UK’s Guardian reported.

General Sir Michael Jackson, the army’s highest-ranking officer, called the alleged incidents “shameful.” They are still being investigated by the Royal Military Police, which must first ascertain that the photographs are genuine, not carefully staged fakes.

If true, the allegations could mean serious criminal consequences for Britain, which, unlike the United States, has signed up to the new International Criminal Court. The Court has the power to launch war crimes charges of its own against authorities including the commander-in-chief—the Prime Minister—if necessary. It is now becoming clear why the United States has objected to be a signatory to this important Court.

“If they don’t investigate it properly, it will go up the chain of command. Everyone is going to be watching this case very closely,” said John Jones, co-author of International Criminal Practice. This also means that, in order to save the necks of high-level officials, others may be scapegoats in the process.

Last week’s torture allegations have drawn international condemnation, with even members of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) joining the chorus of criticism.

Dara Nor al-Din, a former judge, told The Guardian that the alleged acts contradicted basic human rights: “We used to criticise Saddam’s regime regarding the beating of detained people, so why should we accept to repeat the same tragedy?”

While Washington has tried to portray the scandal as an isolated incident, there have been complaints that torture was carried out at other US facilities including Camp Cropper, a holding area for detainees close to Baghdad’s airport.

It is becoming clear, despite all the statements of sudden shock and disgust emanating from the White House, that top Bush Administration officials have known about this for some time. For one, CBS News revealed that the network decided to delay broadcast of the breaking story for two weeks upon the personal request of Joint Chiefs Chairman General Richard Myers.

Even more damning, former Iraqi human rights minister Abdel Basset Turki told AFP that he had informed Iraq’s American administrator Paul Bremer about reported abuses by the US military back in November, “but there was no answer.” In addition, Bremer refused Turki’s request to visit the US-controlled prisons.

Afroz Ali is a freelance journalist, based in Sydney Australia. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Science & Human Development and a founding member of the Muslims for Peace Initiative.