For immediate release

December 12, 2005



Doctors for Iraq is calling for an immediate international investigation into crimes of torture committed by Iraqi Government forces and police.

Doctors for Iraq has seen evidence that torture has been used widely against Iraqi civilians who have been arrested randomly without legal procedure and have been transferred to secret prisons.

These secret prisons are located in Baghdad and in different parts of Iraq (Mousel, Kut and Basra.) It is unclear how many of these prisons exists and how many prisoners are being held.

These secret prisons are closed to human rights organisations and the majority of prisoners being held in these facilities have not been charged and are unaware of why they are being held. Prisoners are being subjected to horrific forms of torture including: Sleep deprivation, being hung by their legs and arms for long periods of time, cutting instruments and electrical drills being used against detainees, electric shock, sexual humiliation and abuse, threats of rape and physical violence being used against family members.

Doctors for Iraq has received reports of rape being used as a tool of torture in some cases.

Iraqi women prisoners are also being held in these circumstances and similar abuses are being carried out against them. Prisoners are being forced to sign confessions after being tortured.

Doctors for Iraq highlighted issues around ghost prisoners and secret detention centres several months ago. The human rightsabuses continue in Iraq under a new government and police force.

Doctors for Iraq is calling for an immediate international investigation into these widespread crimes. We are calling on the European Union (who are training Iraqi police forces) and the UN to uphold the rights of Iraqi citizens and to play a central role in an international investigation into these crimes.

We are calling on the government of Iraq to bring an immediate end to torture and inhumane treatment of detainees. The Iraqigovernment must disclose all information relating to these prisons and detainees and allow human rights organisations and doctors full and unconditional access to detainees.

Doctors for Iraq is calling on the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights to uphold the principles of human rights and to take full responsibility of establishing the full details behind how and why widespread systematic torture is being carried by government forces.



For more information contact:

Aisha Ismael: press.officer@doctorsforiraq.org

Dr. Salam Ismael: salam.obaidi@doctorsforiraq.org