Apparent abuse discovered at Iraqi detention centre

Iraqi and US military officials have said that an inspection of an overcrowded detention centre run by the Interior Ministry discovered 13 prisoners who required medical treatment, the victims of apparent abuse.

A statement by the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry did not say why the 13 needed treatment, but added that an investigating judge also ordered the immediate release of 56 people apparently held without reason at the Baghdad facility - which was inspected by a team of investigators on December 8.

The revelation could have an impact on Thursday’s general elections by reinforcing criticism of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari’s Shiite-dominated government. Opposition parties and Sunni Arab groups have accused the government and the Shiite-dominated security forces of human rights abuses.

Last month, an inspection by US troops found up to 173 malnourished Iraqi detainees at a building of the Shiite-led Interior Ministry in Baghdad’s Jadriyah district.

Some of the inmates showed signs of torture.

On November 15, al-Jaafari promised an investigation and results within two weeks. No report has ever been released.

“The team has discovered a number of problems that the Interior Ministry and Human Rights Ministry have undertaken to solve,” the statement said, adding that “13 detainees were evacuated from the above mentioned centre so that they could receive medical treatment.”

The ministry did not say why they needed treatment, what had caused their injuries, or if they were consistent with abuse or torture.

But an officer at the Interior Ministry said the 13 were taken for medical treatment because they had signs of abuse.

“Thirteen people with signs of torture were transferred to the hospital and are now under guard,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the US-led Multinational Forces in Iraq confirmed that 13 people had been taken from the facility for medical treatment but had no further details.

“There were coalition officers present during the inspection of the facility,” said US Air Force Tech Sgt Stacy Simon. “Thirteen of them were removed from the facility to receive medical treatment.”