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'''Abu Ghraib prison'''(Abu Ghurayb), located 20 [[Mile|miles]] (32 [[Kilometer|kilometers]]) from [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]], was a notorious [[Prison|prison]] under [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein's]] regime.  

'''Abu Ghraib prison'''(Abu Ghurayb), located 20 [[Mile|miles]] (32 [[Kilometer|kilometers]]) from [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]], was a notorious [[Prison|prison]] under [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein's]] regime, and the sight of several high profile prisoner abuse cases which received much worldwide attention.  

==Abu Ghraib under Saddam Hussein==

===Abu Ghraib under Saddam Hussein===

During Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq, countless reports of torture and execution at Abu Ghraib emerged. The US State Department records incidents at Abu Ghraib involving the amputation of prisoners’ limbs for the crime of conducting business in United States currency in 1994<ref>“Iraqis Dismembered by Saddam Received Artificial Limbs in U.S.” US State Department, 28 May 2004, http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=May&x=20040528165245cpataruK3.368777e-02  </ref> and the 2001 execution of  28 political prisoners in a wave of “prison cleansing.” <ref>Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Iraq 2001,” US State Department, March 4, 2002.

During Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq, countless reports of torture and execution at Abu Ghraib emerged. The US State Department records incidents at Abu Ghraib involving the amputation of prisoners’ limbs for the crime of conducting business in United States currency in 1994<ref>“Iraqis Dismembered by Saddam Received Artificial Limbs in U.S.” US State Department, 28 May 2004, http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=May&x=20040528165245cpataruK3.368777e-02  </ref> and the 2001 execution of  28 political prisoners in a wave of “prison cleansing.” <ref>Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Iraq 2001,” US State Department, March 4, 2002.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8257.html</ref>  Additionally, in a report detailing conditions in Iraq under Hussein, the White House records the execution of over 4,000 prisoners at Abu Ghraib in 1984 alone. <ref> “Life Under Saddam,” http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030404-1.html </ref>

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8257.html</ref>  Additionally, in a report detailing conditions in Iraq under Hussein, the White House records the execution of over 4,000 prisoners at Abu Ghraib in 1984 alone. <ref> “Life Under Saddam,” http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030404-1.html </ref>

==Abu Ghraib under Coalition Control==

===Abu Ghraib under Coalition Control===

According to Capt. Mark Doggett of the Australian army out of 7,800 prisoners being held in 2004 approximately 120 foreign [[jihad]]ists entered to attack Iraqi civilians and coalition allies.

According to Capt. Mark Doggett of the Australian army out of 7,800 prisoners being held in 2004 approximately 120 foreign [[jihad]]ists entered to attack Iraqi civilians and coalition allies.

:"We have people in custody who have been involved in killing Americans and others from the coalition forces. I really cannot think of a worse crime than that: murder." Doggett added, "The most common things people are being detained for include attacking coalition forces or the Iraqi people, likewise for financing attacks on forces or the Iraqi people," or being "involved in the planning of attacks." Likewise "the manufacture of improvised explosive devices. That could mean everything from procuring the necessary materials for explosive devices, through to actually manufacturing the devices, to planting them." <ref>*[http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/052404/opi_052454.shtml ''Abu Ghraib inmates aren't 'helpless' - they're lethal''], Deroy Murdock, The Daily Oakland Press, May 24, 2004.</ref>

:"We have people in custody who have been involved in killing Americans and others from the coalition forces. I really cannot think of a worse crime than that: murder." Doggett added, "The most common things people are being detained for include attacking coalition forces or the Iraqi people, likewise for financing attacks on forces or the Iraqi people," or being "involved in the planning of attacks." Likewise "the manufacture of improvised explosive devices. That could mean everything from procuring the necessary materials for explosive devices, through to actually manufacturing the devices, to planting them." <ref>*[http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/052404/opi_052454.shtml ''Abu Ghraib inmates aren't 'helpless' - they're lethal''], Deroy Murdock, The Daily Oakland Press, May 24, 2004.</ref>

==Abu Ghraib Prison Abuse==

===Abuse cases===

 

During the occupation by the U.S.-led coalition, accounts of abuse of prisoners by U. S. forces emerged and led to courts martial of several individuals, including [[Lynndie England]]. Several of the accused soldiers claimed they were acting under orders.  In 2004 [[Arundhati Roy]] told a meeting of the American Sociological Association in Berkeley broadcast on [[Democracy Now]],

During the occupation by the U.S.-led coalition, accounts of abuse of prisoners by U. S. forces emerged and led to courts martial of several individuals, including [[Lynndie England]]. Several of the accused soldiers claimed they were acting under orders.  In 2004 [[Arundhati Roy]] told a meeting of the American Sociological Association in Berkeley broadcast on [[Democracy Now]],

:''Each of the Iraqi children killed by the United States was our child.  Each prisoner tortured in Abu Ghraib was our comrade''.<ref>[http://nobsnews.blogspot.com/2004/08/arundhati-roy-transcript.html Transcript of Arundhati Roy] Speaking to American Sociological Association, from ''Democracy Now''</ref>

:''Each of the Iraqi children killed by the United States was our child.  Each prisoner tortured in Abu Ghraib was our comrade''.<ref>[http://nobsnews.blogspot.com/2004/08/arundhati-roy-transcript.html Transcript of Arundhati Roy] Speaking to American Sociological Association, from ''Democracy Now''</ref>

Capt. Doggett reported that only one journalists inquired about the nature of the actions that that led to internment for prisoners being held.

Capt. Doggett reported that only one journalists inquired about the nature of the actions that that led to internment for prisoners being held. Responding to the public release of the Abu Ghraib abuse photographs, then Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, explained,

 

Responding to the public release of the Abu Ghraib abuse photographs, then Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, explained,

:“I feel terrible about what happened to these Iraqi detainees. They are human beings. They were in U.S. custody. Our country had an obligation to treat them right. We didn’t do that. That was wrong. To those Iraqis who were mistreated by members of U.S. armed forces, I offer my deepest apology. It was un-American. And it was inconsistent with the values of our nation.”<ref> Testimony as Prepared by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, The Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Friday, May 07, 2004. http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=118</ref>

:“I feel terrible about what happened to these Iraqi detainees. They are human beings. They were in U.S. custody. Our country had an obligation to treat them right. We didn’t do that. That was wrong. To those Iraqis who were mistreated by members of U.S. armed forces, I offer my deepest apology. It was un-American. And it was inconsistent with the values of our nation.”<ref> Testimony as Prepared by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, The Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Friday, May 07, 2004. http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=118</ref>

==External Links==

==External Links==

  '''Warning: These photographs are quite graphic'''

  '''Warning: These photographs are quite graphic'''

*[http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/] Salon.com Abu Ghraib Photo Archives

*[http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/] Salon.com Abu Ghraib Photo Archives