Some worry about abuse as U.S. hands over final detention center to Iraq

[Turborama]

Source: Washington Post

BAGHDAD -- A U.S. general on Thursday handed an oversize key to Iraq's justice minister and relinquished control of the nation's last American-run detention center.

That moment closed a controversial chapter of the U.S.-led occupation, after seven years in which tens of thousands of Iraqis have passed through American detention centers. Often they were never charged with a crime. At Abu Ghraib, some were infamously abused and humiliated.

Now human rights groups and Iraqis worry that detainees will be subjected to abuse in Iraq's crowded prison system. Torture was rampant during the reign of Saddam Hussein, deposed in the U.S.-led invasion. In the past two years, hundreds of torture cases in Iraqi facilities were confirmed by the country's Human Rights Ministry. This year, a secret prison was uncovered where inmates had been beaten and sodomized.

"Unfortunately, Iraq is prone to detention and torture abuses, whether it's the former regime, the occupying powers or now the Iraqi government," said Samer Muscati, an Iraq expert at Human Rights Watch. "Under international law, you're not supposed to transfer detainees if they will get tortured. But how long can the Americans hold on to them? There is no ideal solution, but the Americans have a responsibility."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/15/AR2010071506602.html

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US Troop Withdrawal Begins in Baghdad (Video): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x485399

[panzerfaust]

1. Concern expressed that abuse will not be up to US standards.

[underpants]

2. That has to be one of the most ironic headlines of the last 10 years

The Post needs drug testing

[Soylent Brice]

6. no shit. n/t

[mercuryblues]

3. Now

that headline is the last thing, I expected to see this AM.

edited to add: This comes after the shock of my 20 Y.O. daughter told me she was going to an art show today. Next thing I know my 16 YO. son will tell me he got an A in English.

[Robb]

4. That came faster than I expected.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

5. Some people say I have a big mouth...

[Brooklyns_Finest]

7. Interesting

Everyone cries about how bad America is, but as soon as America leaves, people start to panick.

We are leavign Iraq; these are their prisoners; time for the Iraqis to handle them.

[Jennicut]

8. It is beyond time for Iraq to be in charge of their own prisoners.

And it is not like the U.S. did a spectacular job.