During Sunday US forces took control of an interior ministry building, wherein they discover some 170 detainees being [formerly] held by Iraqi
security forces in Baghdad. Amongst these people there were signs of malnourishment and in some cases signs of torture. The Iraq government has
started an investigation.
news.bbc.co.uk
Iraq's government says it has begun an investigation into the alleged abuse of more than 170 detainees held by Iraqi security forces in Baghdad.
The prisoners, many malnourished and some showing signs of torture, were found when US troops took control of a interior ministry building on
Sunday
The US operation followed persistent inquiries from the family of one of those held, most of whom were Sunnis.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Clearly mis-treatment of prisoners sits ill at ease with the aspirations of civil society, so what is the motivation for abuse here - is it omission,
or more worryingly, commission ?
The former may have some element of credibility in light of the reported pressure on the infrastructure, and the discipline in the still maturing
security forces, but if it's the latter - well, then that's another question altogether - The article goes on to mention "Shia-dominated security
forces" as having a role in this detention, and thereby suggesting a sectarian element to this, but here I find that my penetration is left wanting
and I can't begin to draw out any further conclusions on the motivations here, there seem to be as many reasons as there are people suggesting
them.
One would imagine that this discovery, and the inevitable investigation can only add weight to the burdens and concerns of Iraq.