Iraq Accussed Of Torture And Maintaining Secret Prisons

A police officer stood guard during an official tour of a prison on the grounds of Camp Justice, a military base in northern Baghdad, in July. Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud/Reuters

Report Says Secret Jails, Run by Iraq, Stay Open -- New York Times

BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces controlled directly by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki continue to hold and to torture detainees in secret jails despite his vows last year to end such practices, according to a statement from Human Rights Watch released Tuesday.

The statement renewed longstanding criticism of Mr. Maliki that he has violated the Constitution by having some security forces in charge of pursuing terrorists report directly to his office. About 280 detainees are being held at Camp Justice, a military base in northern Baghdad, with no access to lawyers or their families, according to the report. They are being held by brigades that are supposed to report to the Defense Ministry, it said.

Read more ....

More News On Iraq's Secret Prisons

Human Rights Watch: Maliki's security forces operating secret detention sites -- Washington Post
Notorious Baghdad jail undermined inspection, rights group says -- L.A. Times
Human Rights Watch urges reforms as Iraqi government faces new prisoner abuse claims -- Canadian Press
Iraqi government faces new prisoner abuse claims -- Washington Post
Group: Iraq has opened secret prison -- UPI
Report: Secret prison in Iraq raises fresh concerns over torture -- Christian Science Monitor