Indulging in Cruelty: US Atrocities in Iraqi Prison of Abu Ghraib

The notorious picture illustrating the "stress position" where a prisoner of war has to stand still or risk receiving high-voltage shocks through the body. This practice was favored by the US army since it leaves almost no trace of violence to the body.

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The notorious picture illustrating the "stress position" where a prisoner of war has to stand still or risk receiving high-voltage shocks through the body. This practice was favored by the US army since it leaves almost no trace of violence to the body.

© AP Photo

The practice of putting prisoners of war in the "stress position" (standing completely still for hours or even days) was also implemented by US Army during the war in Vietnam.

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The practice of putting prisoners of war in the "stress position" (standing completely still for hours or even days) was also implemented by US Army during the war in Vietnam.

© AP Photo

Sometimes US militants just immobilized Iraqi prisoners of war. In this picture, the prisoner of war's arms are placed in bags and tied together with plastic cuffs and a padlocked chain.

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Sometimes US militants just immobilized Iraqi prisoners of war. In this picture, the prisoner of war's arms are placed in bags and tied together with plastic cuffs and a padlocked chain.

© AP Photo

American soldiers bully Iraqi prisoners of war with dogs. This was a deliberate choice since dogs are considered impure animals in Islam and Muslims are advised to avoid contact with them. It was a special psychological tactic of humiliation.

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American soldiers bully Iraqi prisoners of war with dogs. This was a deliberate choice since dogs are considered impure animals in Islam and Muslims are advised to avoid contact with them. It was a special psychological tactic of humiliation.

© AP Photo

Beating Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib was part of a daily routine. Corporal Charles A Graner Jr (in the photo) was adept at dishing out punishment.

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Beating Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib was part of a daily routine. Corporal Charles A Graner Jr (in the photo) was adept at dishing out punishment.

© AFP 2023

This photo allegedly shows the torture technique known as sensory deprivation, when a prisoner is blindfolded and/or deafened. The lack of sight and hearing quickly turn into nightmare.

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This photo allegedly shows the torture technique known as sensory deprivation, when a prisoner is blindfolded and/or deafened. The lack of sight and hearing quickly turn into nightmare.

© AP Photo

In this picture, an Iraqi prisoner of war is wrapped in foam padding and sandwiched between two stretchers. Usually US soldiers would sit on top of such a "sandwich" making it hard for the prisoner to breath.

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In this picture, an Iraqi prisoner of war is wrapped in foam padding and sandwiched between two stretchers. Usually US soldiers would sit on top of such a "sandwich" making it hard for the prisoner to breath.

© AFP 2023 / Roberto Schmidt

A relation of an Iraqi prisoner of war cries after being shown a report about the atrocities in Abu Ghraib.

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A relation of an Iraqi prisoner of war cries after being shown a report about the atrocities in Abu Ghraib.

© AFP 2023 / Mohammed Abed

The crimes in Iraq sparked outrage in the Muslim world. In this picture, tomb stones in the northern Gaza City cemetery are seen, with pictures of Iraqi prisoners undergoing abuse by US troops glued to them.

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The crimes in Iraq sparked outrage in the Muslim world. In this picture, tomb stones in the northern Gaza City cemetery are seen, with pictures of Iraqi prisoners undergoing abuse by US troops glued to them.

© AFP 2023 / Behrouz Mehri

Tehran's Islamic community expressed the greatest outrage since the majority of Muslims in Iran and Iraq belong to the same branch of Islam – Shia. In this picture a mural in the Islamic Republic is seen depicting scenes Iraqi prisoners being tortured by US soldiers. The writing on the painting reads in Farsi: "Iraq Today".

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Tehran's Islamic community expressed the greatest outrage since the majority of Muslims in Iran and Iraq belong to the same branch of Islam – Shia. In this picture a mural in the Islamic Republic is seen depicting scenes Iraqi prisoners being tortured by US soldiers. The writing on the painting reads in Farsi: "Iraq Today".

© AFP 2023 / Cem Turkel

Iraqi citizens were also outraged by the events at Abu Ghraib and regularly organized demonstrations against US occupation. Abu Ghraib prisoners became impromptu martyrs to them.

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Iraqi citizens were also outraged by the events at Abu Ghraib and regularly organized demonstrations against US occupation. Abu Ghraib prisoners became impromptu martyrs to them.

© AFP 2023 / Khampha Bouaphanh

Under pressure from civilized society, the US army had to admit journalists to some parts of Abu Ghraib.

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Under pressure from civilized society, the US army had to admit journalists to some parts of Abu Ghraib.

© AFP 2023 / Ali Al-Saadi

The US invasion ruined Iraq and brought immeasurable misery to innocent civilians. Sinan Antoon – an Iraqi intellectual who opposed the rule of Saddam Hussein for all his life – would write in 2018 an Op-Ed in a US daily headlined 'Fifteen Years Ago, America Destroyed My Country'.

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The US invasion ruined Iraq and brought immeasurable misery to innocent civilians. Sinan Antoon – an Iraqi intellectual who opposed the rule of Saddam Hussein for all his life – would write in 2018 an Op-Ed in a US daily headlined 'Fifteen Years Ago, America Destroyed My Country'.

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