“The United States is a friend to all the Iraqi people.” With that sign, Abu Ghraib prison welcomed visitors, replacing the massive photo of Saddam Hussein when the United States took control as part of the War on Terror.

It was this place that unveiled the horrific terror inflicted on prisoners of the war on terror. In 2004, photographs documenting what was happening inside were leaked. This caused global shock and sparked an extensive debate about interrogation methods and more.

The Terror at Abu Ghraib

Abu Ghraib prison was a large penitentiary complex in Abū Ghurayb, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. During Saddam Hussein’s presidency, it became infamous for detaining vast numbers of political prisoners and using torture. It was reopened by the U.S. military in August 2003, after the invasion of Iraq. In 2004, the prison became the target of international protests when reports and photos detailing the most nefarious interrogation methods and the deaths of prisoners were leaked.

Reports of abus*es committed by the U.S. military began to emerge shortly after the invasion of Iraq. The first press report was published by the Associated Press in November 2003. The U.S. Army’s internal investigation, led by Major General Antonio Taguba, took place in early 2004. Finally, it became a public scandal when the news program 60 Minutes II aired a segment in April 2024 that included images of the prisoners.

The Taguba report was leaked the following week, and its conclusions confirmed what was shown on the news broadcast. According to the investigation, factors contributing to the abus*es included poor training, understaffing, dysfunctional leadership, and low morale.

What Did They Do to Prisoners at Abu Ghraib?

The worst abuses revealed under U.S. military administration occurred in October and November 2003. The prison was run by the 800th Military Police Brigade from New York, under the command of Major General Janis Karpinski, although many interrogators and translators were private contractors. The Taguba report found that military police personnel participated in inhuman mistreatment.

Regarding prisoner deaths, evidence suggested that many were excecute*d. One highly publicized case was that of Manadel al‑Jamadi. His body was wrapped in ice in an attempt to conceal the circumstances of his death. U.S. military specialists, with approval, appeared in photographs with the body.

The report revealed that these acts were also recorded and photographed. Sometimes, interrogations devolved into religious persecution, including at least one case in which a prisoner was forced to thank Jesus for his life.

How Many People Died at Abu Ghraib?

Authorized forms of interrogation were often no less abusive. Prisoners were shackled in painful positions, denied sleep or isolated for prolonged periods, subjected to extreme temperatures or forced to face their personal phobias. The U.N., and later the Committee Against Torture, declared that many of these methods violated international law.

In response, George W. Bush, the U.S. President at the time, along with other officials, described the crimes at Abu Ghraib as a one‑time exception to the humane treatment of prisoners by the U.S. military. However, human rights organizations maintained that similar behavior had already been documented in Afghanistan and other parts of Iraq as early as 2002. According to a Human Rights Watch report from June 2004:

“The only exceptional aspect of the abuse at Abu Ghraib may have been that it was photographed.”

By the time the prison was closed, a total of 63 deaths had been recorded from various causes.

One of the most terrifying chapters in history, it reveals the horrors that unfold during war and in places like Abu Ghraib. A stain on humanity that we must eradicate.

Esta entrada también está disponible en: Español