More Ghraib Abuse Pictures Surface as Former Inmates Talk about Torture

20/05/2004| IslamWeb

More images of US occupation forces in abusive acts at the Abu Ghraib prison have surfaced in an on-going investigation. In a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday that a new disc contained 11 pictures that had not yet made it to the international press. But the assistant defense secretary for legislative affairs, Powell Moore, said the images "may not be original or true photographs". He said they were given to the Criminal Investigation Command in Baghdad "under circumstances that warranted investigation, including forensic computer evaluation." **Morbid*** In separate photos shown on ABC News, privates Sabrina Harmon and Charles Graner are seen smiling and giving a "thumbs-up" sign over the body of a man identified as Manadil al-Jamadi, an Iraqi who died in US custody at the prison. ABC reported on its Web site that the photos were taken by Sergeant Charles Frederick, who in e-mails to his family questioned why those responsible for the prisoner's death were not being prosecuted in the same manner that he is. Frederick, Harmon and Graner are among six U.S. military police facing charges over the abuse of detainees. A seventh soldier, Jeremy Sivits, was sent to jail and dismissed from the Army on Wednesday after pleading guilty in the first abuse trial. Members of the US Congress saw more than 1600 images from the investigation last week, which they said showed shocking examples of abuse and sexual humiliation of prisoners. ** Former Abu Ghraib inmates talk about torture*** Meanwhile, former inmates at Abu Ghraib jail have been talking about their experience. Ahmed Khatab, a plumber from Baghdad, says he was seized last November by US soldiers who didn't give him any reason for his arrest. He was released two months later: "They took me to the toilet and put my head inside the bowl. They urinated on my head then dragged me along the floor," he said. "They told me to confess or they would bring my wife over and hang her in front of me." Hashim Lazim Mohsen was released in December after being imprisoned since August last year for possessing a weapon: "American soldiers told us to line up facing the wall and to masturbate. If we stopped, they kicked us and hit our heads against the wall. They also forced us to take part in some kind of pyramid game and took photos of us", he said. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Inmates of the Abu Ghraib Prison listen to a sermon during Friday prayer in the prison on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq Friday, May 7, 2004. (AP Photo/John Moore)