IRIN reported that the estimated 220 children between the ages of 13-17 being held in Iraqi prisons are the victims of routine torture and abuse during interrogations. The issue came to light when the parents of 5 boys who had been released sought assistance for their children who were suffering from the effects of the trauma. Khalid Rabia’a a spokesman for the NGO Prisoners’ Association for Justice stated;

what we found out was shocking..The five children showed signs of torture all over their bodies

The boys had obvious physical signs of torture including cigarette burns on their bodies, and one child who could no longer speak due to the shock sessions he has received. The The PAJ is where the families turned to for help and they immediately called on an intervention by the Iraqi government to stop the abuse immediately.

The Minister of the Interior denied that there was any torture or abuse of children and stated that all children being held were released within 48 hours. A senior official with the Ministry of the Interior, Lt. Col. Ali Khalid Hussein, stated;

Iraq respects human rights conduct for children and adults and our prisons aren’t used for torture. Earlier scandals were reported and those responsible were punished. The accusations are wrong and they cannot prove it

Another senior official in the same ministry told IRIN that there are at least 20 children being held in each of Iraq’s prisons and they are all the victims of torture and abuse. This official spoke on condition of anonymity and provides the PAJ with daily updates.

The PAJ has several informants inside the Iraqi prisons, however; for fear of their safety they will not speak without anonymity therefore cases cannot successfully be tried in court.

IRIN requested to visit the prisons where the abuse is alleged and that request was turned down.

I have looked for any sign of this story in the MSM and haven’t found anything. This is certainly the type of story that not only needs to be covered but which something needs to be done about. There is no reason for children to ever be tortured and it violates international laws to do so. Iraq’s Vice President, Tarek al-Hashimy is joining a campaign beginning in Baghdad to put a stop to this behavior. I feel that the US needs to join with him and make sure that we are not supporting a military that tortures children.

We certainly have influence with the Iraqi military, in fact we train them. Let’s hope that this is not protocol that they have learned from US torturers.

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