Is it right to show PoWs?

Is it right to show PoWs?

Two men shown captured by Iraq on TV are civilian lorry drivers employed to deliver food to Iraqi prisoners of war, says the Ministry of Defence.

The British military has criticised the Arabic al-Jazeera TV channel for showing pictures of the prisoners of war and what was said to be two dead British soldiers.

Earlier al-Jazeera was condemned when it showed American PoWs and images of dead US soldiers.

Last week, pictures of surrendering Iraqi soldiers were shown across the world.

Should the footage of prisoners of war be broadcast?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below. They reflect the balance of views we have received.

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Why complain about Geneva Convention when in the first place the UN ignored?
Chris, Guyana

he USA is playing an unfair game

Ali Haider, Pakistan

The USA is playing an unfair game. Itself overrules the UN and thinks that Iraq should follow the Geneva Convention!
Ali Haider, Pakistan

The two British soldiers who were executed by the Iraqi authorities are pure evil deeds committed by Saddam's regime of terror. Saddam is using the PoWs to soften our view and break the spirit of the allied forces and their families.
Wilson Chong, Hong Kong, China

They should show these pictures so that the world has the true picture of what is happening in Iraq and the media should give as much projection to the war as possible to make people aware of the truth.
Uroosa Khan, Pakistan

No they should not be shown from either side. I feel it not only degrades these "human beings" it is hurtful to members of these fine peoples' families. Please let's all be grownups about this and may God watch over us all!
Kathy Jackson, USA

I think it is completely outrageous to show PoW on TV. When we watch the news, we see Iraqi's, not being beaten or lying dead, we see them sat in groups with their hands behind their backs. But Iraqi's feel it is OK to show PoW's that have been beaten or are dead. It's sick and uncalled for!
Elicia, Bristol, England

Yes, it should be shown on all TV stations, so people will realise the horror of war. By showing it, people will react to it. Perhaps one day we could stop the war and have peace.
Peter, Hong Kong SAR

The Geneva Convention is meant to apply to all nations - yes, even the United States

Trader Selkirk, Canadian

The Geneva Convention is meant to apply to all nations - yes, even the United States. This is the Bush administration's flouting of that Convention, with those shackled, hooded Afghanis being herded off to the concentration camp at Guantanamo coming home to roost. The mills of the gods grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine. This whole shameful act will come home too.
Trader Selkirk, Canadian in US/UK

How can the US or Britain expect any country to respect us or our soldiers when we have shown complete and total disregard for international law? We have not respected the Geneva Convention. Why should Iraq?
Cydney Davis-English, USA

Yes POWs should be shown so that the ugly face of war can be seen across the world. It is evident that even sophisticated weapons system cannot lessen human pain and tragedy on both sides.
Pooja, INDIA

The tapes of the American POWs made me sick and left me shaken. Showing the dead bodies of the Americans was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen. I hope to God that Saddam is brought to justice and is tried as a war criminal.
Tom, USA

Iraq is clearly in breach of article 13 of the Geneva Convention. They have some catching up to do. Guantanamo Bay has breached articles 4,5,13,17,18,22,26,28,34,38,41,70,71,72 and 118.

Ian Sellen, New Zealand

Iraq is clearly in breach of article 13 of the Geneva Convention. They have some catching up to do, however. Guantanamo Bay has breached articles 4,5,13,17,18,22,26,28,34,38,41,70,71,72 and 118 of the Geneva Convention. I had thought Donald Rumsfeld didn't much care for this treaty any more, or indeed for any treaty which prevents the US bringing civilisation to the world.
Ian Sellen, New Zealand

I would like to point out the fact that CNN, Fox News, etc... are not government run news agencies. Our government can "ask" them not to show POW's but that is as far as it goes. The Iraqi News agency which is a government sponsored news agency has shown the POW's. As for Al Jazeera, I would say they are allowed to show POW's. They are not affiliated with either side, however as for the Geneva Convention, they should still adhere to the rules as well as all news Agencies should.
Kevin, United States

No POW images should be shown, by any side. Iraq is contravening the Geneva Convention by doing so, but the coalition is doing the same. I accept that the taking of prisoners is part of war, but they should not be shown to the world. It's distressing enough for the families of our military, as well as theirs. By all means, keep us informed of numbers but don't humiliate those captured.
Charlotte, Australia

Showing the faces has a two sided effect. First, love ones can see that their loved ones are alive. The second effect actually shields them from further mortal consequences (execution) because the captors are on "record" of having the combatant in the first place.
Dennis Dowling, USA

It is permissible to show POWs on TV, but the Geneva Convention prohibits showing them in humiliating postures or situations, like undergoing interrogations or forcing them to make statements against their country, which was the case in the 1991 Gulf War. Those actions are clearly illegal.
Tony, USA

Regardless of the Geneva Convention, displaying injured, much less killed, soldiers on any TV program is beyond the pale of civility.
Tom Alvord, USA

I hope the Allies treat captured and wounded soldiers with kindness

Nadeem Shaikh, UK

It's a bit late for the USA to complain about violating international law! Nonetheless, I hope the Allies treat captured and wounded soldiers with kindness. Look at Yvonne Ridley; because she was well treated by the Taliban she converted to Islam.
Nadeem Shaikh, UK

I think every detail should be shown no mater how bad this is after all a war and people should see what war is like. its not something to be taken lightly, I am sure that the government would have many more people showing their distaste for this war if the UK and USA news had the courage to show this war as it is, no matter how distasteful it is.
Simon, England

NO! It breaks the Geneva Convention, is propaganda material, and the more that is shown of this war and any other that may occur, only desensitises us to the true horrors of war.
Gareth Evans, S Wales

The news channel should show everything about the war with no censorship. As it is now, what is shown on the channels looks like they are producing a documentary. If they don't show, everyone would think that war is fun.
Kok Siong, Singapore

No one has been forced by a gunpoint to watch

Ingrid Denninger, Germany

No one has been forced by a gunpoint to watch, so if you like to see how the forces are making great progress in winning this war, you must be prepared to see things, that makes the war what it is ----- brutal, bloody and great many times also merciless.
Ingrid Denninger, Germany

Showing of prisoners of war is a cheap propaganda tactic. During wars laws are rarely kept as we have seen the worst crimes being committed by the most civilized societies. How relevant is the Geneva Convention when the UN regulations are relegated?
Dawood Yusuf, Nigeria

I think it is wrong to show pictures of PoWs. But in the scale of human outrages it ranks very low. The hypocrisy of Blair and Bush cries out to the heavens set against the appalling carnage and slaughter of innocent Iraqis that is undeniably and increasingly occurring. Why are the deaths of two British soldiers a crime against humanity while the burning and incineration of Iraqis are simply part of the collateral damage that comes from waging a so called 'justified' war?
Ian Gregory, UK

If it against the Geneva Convention to show POW's on television, than I would suggest that ANY newspaper or station (UK, US or otherwise) that reproduces these images and shows images of Iraqi POW's is guilty of the same crime that Iraq being accused of. And they should be held equally responsible for their actions.
Emily, England

Well is it not a naive idea to expect Iraq to stick to the Geneva Convention when the decisions of the forums like the UN have been thrown aside by the US/UK governments? Perhaps the war mongers have been paid back in the same coin. Nothing wrong in showing the REAL facts for a change rather than the "Embedded" version to hoodwink the people of the world at large.
Shridhar, India

I do not think it's alright to see the POWs from either nation on TV

Tara S., USA

I do not think it's alright to see the POWs from either nation on TV. It's just hurtful to the worried families back home as for the Geneva Conventions, Mr. Bush and his associates should practice what they complain about.
Tara S., USA

As long as they are treated well. why not. The Americans also show their POW. So why such a hustle?
Sandy, Indonesia

The laws of war do still apply to countries who are facing an illegal war, though they are of course entitled under the UN Charter to defend themselves. Even if this campaign is illegal, which is by no means clear, Iraq is not entitled to disregard the Geneva Conventions, which they clearly have done by broadcasting these images.
Matthew Wentworth, UK

Well, we are bound to think it is wrong to show PoWs as it is strongly against the Geneva convention. However, everyone knows that Iraq is not part of the Geneva convention and therefore they can show them without going against anything in particular. Although it is definitely a very bad thing to do.
Adam Hall, England

The Americans started it! When the Iraqis do it it's a crime. In any case it should put families at ease knowing that their sons and daughters are captured - but OK. In this war of hypocrites Bush and Blair are the frontrunners.
Brent, South Africa

The war reports are turning into a "docu-soap"

Susanne Stangl, Germany

No, pictures of PoWs should not be shown in the media at the time present. Also, live pictures of on-going battles should not be transmitted. The war reports are turning into a "docu-soap". We are flooded with "unrefined" information just because life coverage is "in" and details and facts are "out".
Susanne Stangl, Germany

It is very right for Iraqi to show the PoWs. We should forget the Geneva convention, after all Bush and Britain did not wait for UN backing before Bombing Iraq.
Clinton Cookey, Nigeria

It is not just the military that is responsible for adhering to the Geneva Conventions, it is also the media. The media are failing in their responsibility to adhere to their countries' obligations under the Geneva Conventions by broadcasting the footage.
Chris Knight, Australia

Yes, of course it is right to show Prisoners of War on TV, because this is a signal to their family and friends that these soldiers are still alive, and every one is able to see the conditions of prison and healthcare etc.
Frank-Ralf Mayer, Germany

The Allies should not react so strongly since they themselves are violators of so many rules - showing pictures of Iraqi prisoners and invading Iraq without UN approval.
Bea Marie, Philippines

The faces of POWs should be shown on TV but only under certain circumstances like pictures of them eating meals or been treated kindly by their enemy etc. but not those pictures of the POWs shivering and scared and been maltreated.
Thejao Kesiezie, Kohima, India

Saddam is so overwhelmingly outgunned, both militarily and in the propaganda war, I would expect him to use every dirty trick available - I know I would in his position.
Garry S, Australia

Not only does it violate the Geneva Convention but it's being used as propaganda

Sia, USA

No, I don't think it's right to broadcast POW's. Not only does it violate the Geneva Convention but it's being used as propaganda for the regime's own purposes.
Sia, USA

Sia from the USA, which regime would you be referring to? Would it be the regime that captured and interviewed POW's that were injured possibly as a result of the war they are fighting, or the regime which puts a gun to the head of a POW that is kneeling, with his hands bound and drinking water?
Jeremy Cedenio, UK

Were it Saddam's, or the frightened faces of his henchmen, it may not have been so painful. Unfortunately, it's the faces of the more vulnerable, and this just serves to remind us; we all suffer, whoever we are, and from whatever part of the world we come. What our world needs now is more love for our fellowmen, though I'm still working on my sentiments towards Saddam.
Claudia Osborne, London, England

Iraq should show their PoWs, because if the US can then why not any other country? That is the main focus here; if the US can it can also be fair for another country to show it.
Hisyam, Malaysia

Surely the Americans are hankering about the plight of their soldiers in the enemy hands. But international law doesn't apply in cases when they couldn't secure a resolution on the UN legalizing their aggression, nor when they are too busy in inflicting vindictive punishment on the prisoners in Cuba.
Ib Pogi, Philippines

It's not a matter of showing POWs on TV, I don't have a problem with that. What bothers me is the condition in which they are being shown. The Geneva Convention states that prisoners must be treated with respect and given proper medical care and food. When we show prisoners on our newscasts, they are clearly just that. The Iraqis show them as "trophies" that they have beaten down, humiliated and degraded. Saddam, his family and his soldiers are notorious for their cruel acts towards their own people, so the American POWs are going to have it worse.
Laura, USA

Every party has the right to show the POWS - its the war propaganda way. If the Americans showed captured Iraqis to prove their success, what's wrong if the Iraqis showed the invading troops?
Faheem, Germany

Is it OK for the media of the West, but not OK for the media of the East?

name here

There is one aspect of this broadcast that puzzles me. It its simplest form, it goes like this . . . At my home, I receive the 5 main UK TV channels via ordinary terrestrial broadcast. No satellite or cable. I cannot receive "Iraqi TV" directly. Therefore, this Iraqi broadcast has been re-broadcast by the UK broadcasting authorities to my home. Therefore, these UK authorities are "accessories to the fact" of violating the Geneva Convention (to quote the Red Cross). Or is it OK for the media of the West, but not OK for the media of the East? Can someone explain to me? I'm sure that it's not as simple as it appears to my ordinary mind.
Alan Hall, UK

The Geneva Convention permits the US and the UK to show POWs from a distance. It does not permit them to show prisoners close up. After all, they could then be identified as deserters and their families punished. Nor does it allow the US to create a third category of POW, an "illegal combatant" which is not protected by the Convention. The consequence of this sort of hypocrisy has already been seen in the failure of the UN.
Vig, UK

If the US wants its POWs to be treated as it treats other nations' POWs, perhaps it should send orange boiler suits, 24 hour lighting and cages to the Iraqis. Oh, and ask them to deny the POWs the right to legal assistance and their Bibles.
Jacky, Italy

Surprisingly no one even made an issue when Iraqi POWs were shown on the television

Vijay, Netherlands

Even yesterday on CNN I saw Iraqi POWs being shown with the hands behind their backs, kneeling in front of American soldiers who asked them questions.. Surprisingly no one even made an issue when Iraqi POWs were shown on the television. Why does it always become a big issue only when it happens to Americans?
Vijay, Amsterdam, Netherlands

This is the perfect case of the pot calling the kettle black. Americans talking about Geneva Conventions while ignoring the United Nations. The Iraqis have to fight this illegal invasion and they are trying to use their limited success to boost the morale of their population. There is nothing wrong in this.
Sanjiv, India

This just helps to show people about the pointless horror of war. People are sat at home cheering on the US in fighting this war, but then stuff like that happens. That's not something to cheer for.
Simon A, UK

America sees themselves as the police of the world, so does the law not apply to them? When they decided to show Iraqi POW they should have reminded themselves of the Geneva Convention and international laws.
Iq, Leicester, UK

No it is not right. Yes the soldiers are professionals but as a mother I would not wish to see my sons beaten, interrogated or killed on TV. We must respect the privacy of the families of our soldiers and pray that their loved ones come home to them safely.
Mary Fleming, Scotland

I think the idea behind showing POWs on TV is to bring across that getting in a war is not an ideal solution in those days, at least from the audience's viewpoint. The US had the choice to avoid it in the first place. Iraqi's have nothing to lose and don't give a damn. They've been in constant war since 1980. The whole thing is a tragedy anyway.
Ahmed, Egypt

These are the tragedies of war - it is not a computer game.
One of the biggest battles of this war is being fought out through the media. We must be careful what we believe. It suited the USA in the Afghanistan war to show POWs bound and masked on TV, now they are outraged! I think Mr Bush needs to rejoin the real world. This is a real war, he may be doing this for financial reasons but people will die.
Philip Scanlon, Ireland

What about Guantanamo prisoners? What about showing them blind-folded, cuffed and caged like animals, with the Americans free to do what ever they want with them. Where are the Geneva rights they're talking about??
Mohamed Abdallah, Kuwait City

One must also look at it in its historical context

Sebastian, Germany

It is OK to show PoWs. I'd also like to point out that the Geneva Convention is over 50 years old - out dated. One must also look at it in its historical context. During WWII Jews were humiliated through such things as having their hair 'locks' cut in public - such actions is what this 'humiliation' was based on, we have come no where close to any such actions on either side.
Sebastian, Germany

Kathy, Texas, USA writes "Don't mess with the US". Or else what? Will the US "liberate" us as well? The US and the Americans have shown themselves to be hypocrites with regards to the Geneva Convention and the "universal values" championed in a theatrical performance deserving of an Oscar. The US selective amnesia would have been hilarious if not for its revolting consequences. When the shoe is on the other foot, not pleasant is it?
Atilla Imamoglu, Turkey

This is an illegal invasion and Iraqis have the right to defend their country. If Bush and Blair can do whatever they want in the name of self-defence then Iraqis also have the right to do anything acceptable to them. Iraqis didn't confront anyone and they didn't even want this war. Therefore it is wrong to say that they will be treated as war criminals. Bush and Blair should be made answerable to every death in Iraq and brought in front of International court of Justice, which will never happen because these courts are designed for heads of states of few countries.
Ras, UK

It's a moot point: The Iraqi TV won't stop doing it, and the US/UK TV will keep doing it for the ratings. The only good thing about seeing the POW's is that we now know they are still alive. I'm disgusted with the media over here in the US as the reporting on the war has become almost a competition between stations, and only the most sensational material gets to be aired... Very few radio stations and TV news channels are reporting the fact that the shopping centre got bombed and 14 innocent people lost their lives.
Tim, USA (from UK)

The view of POWs on TV is disturbing for all, not just the families of the solders. However US accusations of Iraqis not adhering to the Geneva conventions is a brutal hypocrisy, remembering their treatment of Afghani prisoners in Guantanamo and the latest pictures of Iraqi POW with their hands bound behind. The POWs captured by Iraq were not bound and although being in shock in my opinion they were not treated in a humiliating fashion. As for showing them on TV, that is the truth of war and the public has the right to know about it because the public pays for it.
Stanislaw, Poland

Is Bush surprised about his soldiers paraded on Iraqi TV?

Pepe Compean, MEXICO

Is Bush surprised about his soldiers paraded on Iraqi TV? Is he worried about misapplication of the Geneva Convention's articles? There's one regarding attacking defenceless civilians, but I think he and his advisors aren't aware of that small detail... Mexicans said NO! to war and every time we see the victims of every bombing we ask ourselves were are the great statesmen that once guided the USA or England? Were are the inheritors of Churchill, Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson?
Pepe Compean, MEXICO

My opinion is the media either should show the PoWs of both sides OR none at all.
Hussain Patel, UK

As an American citizen I feel that I have the right to see the video. I do not believe that it should be played on television. It should be put on the net so that those who want to see it can and those that don't will not have to.
Linsdsay Pennell, Missouri, USA

Concerning the issue of showing PoWs on TV in humiliating conditions, I think it is something both parties should avoid. I think it's unfair when the Americans complain for their PoWs in Iraq being shown on TV, while reserving the right to keep Taliban prisoners in chains, in cages, and not allow any organisation to check on their conditions or the way they are treated. .
Giuseppe, Italy

To those who are unable to see the video of PoWs, did you see the picture of an Iraqi mother running for shelter with a severely injured and burnt on face toddler in her hands? If not just imagine the scene and ask yourself which of the two is more disgusting - what bush is doing or what Iraqis are doing?
Amit, USA

It's important that we all understand the consequences of war, even if it makes feel uncomfortable

John, England

The pictures of captured American Soldiers is distasteful, but I believe that it should be shown. It's important that we all understand the consequences of war, even if it makes feel uncomfortable. Not reporting something doesn't make it go away.
John, England

I think PoWs should be shown on TV, and by every media outlet possible. While they could be used for propaganda, almost anything can - and if anyone thinks we're getting an unbiased view of this war then they're naive! But if the media have access to PoWs, then that's just one more check that they are being treated the way they should be. Break this aspect of the Geneva Convention and we can all be more sure that the rest of it is being upheld.
Josephine, UK

It absolutely is NOT ok to show our POWs pictures. Even worse is the video (I didn't see it) that Saddam had circulated via al-Jazeera that shows his brutality. If anyone was still undecided whether Saddam needed to go, this should have proved it.
Rita Austera, USA