The new Iraqi security learns from Saddam... or Gonzales and the Gitmo team

chevalier · Feb 1, 2005

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Judge demoted for investigating torture case:

Concerns about the conduct of Iraq's security apparatus were first raised in October when the chief investigative judge on Iraq's central criminal court, Zuhair al-Malily, was demoted to a lower court for his investigation into illegal detentions and torture.
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Government trying to stamp out "arbitrary" (pron: illegal) detentions... so who is doing that? Gummy bears?

At the time, Interior Minister Falah Naquib acknowledged before the country's interim parliament that there had been cases of arbitrary detention but said his government was trying to stamp them out.
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The show goes on:

However, an Iraqi justice, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP last week the abuses by the interior ministry have carried on, with all voices of dissent chilled since Maliky's demotion.
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It isn't bad... so long as no one knows:

"Nobody wants to handle the cases. No one wants to risk losing his position," the justice said.
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Ministry above the law:

The justice added he is aware of six to seven cases in the last three months where the interior ministry has refused court orders to release detainees whom the courts ruled should not be held.
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Onward rule of law:

"This is a violation of the law. The only person who can order a detention or release someone is a judge."
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The general doesn't know (haven't heard that somewhere?) and no one could have done that because he would have been punished if he had done that and no one has been punished, so no one has done that. Logical, isn't it?

For its part, the interior ministry defended its conduct. Major General Hussein Ali Kamal, who heads the Iraqi police's intelligence department, denied any knowledge of abuses and vowed if any police were involved in such misdeeds they would be punished.
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Regain independence from the US and get rid of the judge:

The defunct US occupation authority had initially assigned Maliky the folder of studying bribery and brutality by members of the major crimes unit in April 2004, two months before Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's caretaker government took power.

Five of the cases involved the use of electric shock on detainees, leaving one man partially paralysed, Maliky told AFP in October. His probe resulted in the arrest or conviction of 20 policemen.
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Court order. Who cares. Criminals continue to work in law enforcement and, well, protect the society from... yeah, criminals.

But once Iraq regained its sovereignty in June, his investigation ground to a halt as the government put a premium on restoring security. Ten policemen with outstanding charges refused to obey court summons and suffered no consequence.
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Can't get a warrant? Give the intelligence their own judges. Just hope Dubya won't read this news.

The judge ordered their release, saying the interior ministry had failed to obtain a proper warrant or bring the suspects before a court.

In the fall out from the case, the national intelligence service simply secured broader powers, being awarded its own special judges authorised to issue arrest warrants.
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All in all, a big cheer for the new lawful authorities.

Click here for the Yahoo news item.

More:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi authorities routinely torture prisoners, a leading human rights group said Tuesday, citing examples of abuse which will sound all too familiar to those who suffered under Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).

Prisoners have been beaten with cables and hosepipes, and suffered electric shocks to their earlobes and genitals, the U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch said. Some have been starved of food and water and crammed into standing-room only cells.

"The people of Iraq (news - web sites) were promised something better than this after the government of Saddam Hussein fell," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of the group's Middle East and North Africa division.

"The Iraqi interim government is not keeping its promises to honor and respect basic human rights. Sadly, the Iraqi people continue to suffer from a government that acts with impunity in its treatment of detainees."

Human Rights Watch said it interviewed 90 Iraqi prisoners between July and October last year, just after the government of interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi assumed power from the U.S.-led forces which toppled Saddam.

Seventy-two said they had been tortured or mistreated.

"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 ... and being kept blindfolded and/or handcuffed continuously for several days," the group said in a report.

"In several cases, the detainees suffered what may be permanent physical disability."

The report also said Iraq's intelligence service had violated the rights of political opponents.

It highlighted the systematic use of arbitrary arrest, pre-trial detention of up to four months, improper treatment of child detainees and abysmal conditions in pre-trial facilities.

The report follows a scandal over U.S. treatment of prisoners in the American-run Abu Ghraib prison, which erupted last year after the discovery of photographs showing prisoners being tortured and sexually abused.

While the Human Rights Watch report looked solely at Iraqi institutions and did not address torture of prisoners by U.S. soldiers, it said international police advisors, mostly Americans, had turned a blind eye to Iraqi abuse.

"The Iraqi security forces obviously face tremendous challenges, including an insurgency that has targeted civilians," Whitson said.

"We unequivocally condemn the insurgents' brutality. But international law is unambiguous on this point: no government can justify torture of detainees in the name of security."

Iraq's justice minister did not challenge the findings of the report, saying it would be unrealistic to expect a flawless judicial system in a war-torn country like Iraq.

The government's record will be tested in a general election Sunday.

"A new Iraqi government requires more than a change of leadership," Whitson said. "It requires a change of attitude about basic human dignity." (Additional reporting by Khaled Oweis)
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Click here for the Yahoo news item.

The Shaman · Feb 1, 2005

Apparently, habits of authoritarianism are hard to stamp out... particularly so when the liberators, who as we all know went there in order to free the Iraqi people (all other reasons being duds) provide such wonderful role models.

"A new Iraqi government requires more than a change of leadership," Whitson said. "It requires a change of attitude about basic human dignity."
Ironic, isn't it, that we get the same phrase after all the blood (and oil) spilled.

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The new Iraqi security learns from Saddam... or Gonzales and the Gitmo team

chevalier Knight of Everfull Chalice ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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The new Iraqi security learns from Saddam... or Gonzales and the Gitmo team

chevalier Knight of Everfull Chalice ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

The Shaman Gems: 28/31Latest gem: Star Sapphire

The Shaman Gems: 28/31
Latest gem: Star Sapphire