CPT Iraq - Human Rights Testimonies

The following testimony was documented on July 27, 2004 by Maxine Nash and Sheila Provencher. The interview took place at her home, and was done with the help of a translator.

NOTE: CPT received permission to publicize this testimony but only if names, dates, and places were changed.

CPT Iraq - Human Rights Testimonies

The Iraqi Police arrested Thabaat Al-Soudany, a human rights worker and resident of Baghdad, on 12 February 2004 on suspicion of stealing Iraqi antiquities. The charges were dropped and he was released on 11 April 2004. The Iraqi Police rearrested him on 29 June 2004, and then dropped the charges again and released him on 25 September 2004. Shortly after his second release he wrote the following account, originally in Arabic, of his experiences inside prisons run by the Interim Iraqi Government. CPT Iraq has edited the following version from its original translated version to correct typos and spelling and grammar errors. Some portions, which were not clear in the translation or were tangential, have been omitted.

CPT Iraq - Human Rights Testimonies

The following is a transcription of a human rights questionnaire filled out by Mohamed Kamel Yahya (with the assistance of a translator) detailing his case. Some spelling and grammar errors have been noted to aid the reader.

Banner Reading: “Return Sons to Their Mothers, Fathers to Their Children. Release All Innocent Detainees.” (Photo: CPT)

Although the publicity surrounding the detainee abuse scandal is one year in the past, the suffering of detainees and their families continues. Close to 11,000 Iraqis are held in U.S.-run prisons and bases throughout Iraq. They are held without trial and often without knowledge of the charges against them. Often their families will not know where they are for months.

The following are five recent stories of detainees - two women and three men. Two are part of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Adopt-a-Detainee campaign and are in detention right now. Three have been released and have given their testimonies.
-CPT team in Iraq