Welcome to the new Iraq............

AmenToThat

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050125/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqrights&cid=1514&ncid=1480

NEW YORK (AFP) - Iraqi forces have tortured detainees with electric shocks to their genitals and by beating them with cables and fists, Human Rights Watch said. "The Iraqi interim government is not keeping its promises to honor and respect basic human rights," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa Division.

"Unlawful arrest, long-term incommunicado detention, torture and other ill-treatment of detainees (including children) by Iraqi authorities have become routine and commonplace," the group said in a 94-page report entitled, "The New Iraq (news - web sites)? Torture and Ill-treatment of Detainees in Iraqi Custody," released Monday.

The Human Rights Watch report was based on interviews with 90 detainees in Iraq, including 72 who clamed to have been tortured or ill-treated, particularly under interrogation. The group conducted the investigation between July and October 2004.

"Sadly, the Iraqi people continue to suffer from a government that acts with impunity in its treatment of detainees," she said. Dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was toppled in April 2003. "While insurgent forces have committed numerous unlawful attacks against the Iraqi police, this does not justify the abuses committed by Iraqi authorities," Human Rights Watch added.

The detainees said the methods of tortures included "routine beatings to the body using cables, hosepipes and other implements," the group said. "Detainees report kicking, slapping and punching; prolonged suspension from the wrists with the hands tied behind the back; electric shocks to sensitive parts of the body, including the earlobes and genitals," it said.

The detainees also reported being kept blindfolded and handcuffed for several consecutive days. "In several cases, the detainees suffered what may be permanent physical disability," the group said. Detainees also reported being deprived of food and water and that Iraqi police sought bribes in return for their release.

The human rights violations have been committed since 2003 against suspected insurgents and common criminals, the group said. The report "also highlights serious violations committed by Iraq's national intelligence service since mid-2004, principally against members of political parties deemed to constitute a threat to state security."




Seems to be fairly systematic abuse so surely sanctions can be imposed?
Better still lets invade and get rid of the evil thugs who engage in and condon this behaviour.............................

Sorry for the sarcasm but between this, the Abu Graib scandal and the flattening of Fallujah I really cannot see very much difference between the previous Regime and this present one, ok there is a difference in scale but lets remember this current set up is less than two years old wheres as Saddams crimes were spread over a thirty year period.
Hell they are even sensoring the media. As far as I know the Al Jazeera offices in Baghdad are still closed and it was the closing of AL Sadar's newspaper that caused him to revolt last April.

chewy

the Aru Ghrib thing was explained away by the soldiers saying that they were interrogating them for vital information about evil manic terrorist which could attack them and the homeland at any moment, the UK soldiers were apparently trying to scare looters,
if that what they did to looters I 'd hate to what else they get up to

popinfresh

Dear god, democracy my hole. The US have acheived sweet fcuk all and created terrorists where there was none before. What a bunch of idiots..

monument

Iraqi forces have tortured detainees with electric shocks to their genitals and by beating them with cables and fists,

Ahh, I see they are being trained well in the ways of US/UK army policing.