Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / MIDDLE EAST
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Tuesday, 7 November 2006, 14:56 GMT

Iraqis charged over secret jail

Alleged torture victim in Iraq Iraq's Interior Ministry has charged 57 employees, including top level security force members, with human rights abuses at a secret prison uncovered in May.

Iraqi and US officials found the jail at a building in east Baghdad belonging to the Shia-Muslim dominated ministry.

More than 1,400 mainly Sunni prisoners were being held, many showing signs of physical and psychological abuse.

The prison was known as Site Four. It was alleged to have been run by Shia militia members within Iraq's police.

Former interior minister Bayan Jabr denied allegations of systematic human rights abuses.

But his successor, Jawad Bolani, has sacked thousands of employees, and last month suspended an entire police brigade that had been accused of links to death squads.

BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says repeated accusations of abuses have embarrassed not just Iraq's Shia-dominated government but also the Americans.

Washington has been urging Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to take firmer action.

One question that remains unanswered is whether the government will act against Bayan Jabr, our analyst says.




E-mail this to a friend

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
US Department of Defense
Iraqi Government
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©