« Return to Search Results

Documents

Formica Report Annex 4: Statements of Five (5) Abu Ghraib Prison Detainees

May 25, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 2494
Collection of five (5) sworn statements about abuse in detention facilities in Iraq, attached to ACLU-RDI 2493. None of the statements report witnessing any physical abuse at Abu Ghraib, but all recount claims by detainees of abuse at other locations, and some report that "a lot of detainees come to Abu Ghraib abused." Cases of abuse mentioned in the statements include "one incident of rape with a bottle and the death of a brother"; a case where "a soldier took a female detainee and took her shirt off"; instances of detainees being "abused with cigarette burns and electric shocks," or having "[redacted] stick bottles up their rectum"; cases of detainees being made to "put on women's underwear"; and an incident where Iraqi Police "beat up" women, "threatened them with their children," and sexually abused one of the children. One witness recounts seeing "an elder gentleman being made to kneel. There was also an individual taken to a tent. I heard a shot and found out later that the detainee was hit in the side of the head with a rubber bullet."
AUTHORING AGENCIES:
RECEIVING AGENCIES:
OFFICIALS MENTIONED:
INCIDENTS OF ABUSE MENTIONED:
  • 2003-12-31, Abu Ghraib (Baghdad Correctional Facility (BCCF)), Iraq, Death
    • Investigation into allegations by a brother and sister (names redacted) detained at Abu Ghraib; the male detainee alleges that he was "sodomized with a water bottle" and with an "iron stick," and the female detainee alleges that she was "beaten and slapped for several hours" and "threatened with 'getting the bottle.'" Both allege that a third sibling, a brother, was "tortured to death," and the male detainee claims that his "brother's dead body was thrown on him." The investigation found the siblings' allegations of physical abuse to be unsubstantiated, based in part on background information that the siblings were "heavily involved in AIF [Anti-Iraqi Forces] activities," and on inconsistencies in the siblings' allegations. The doctor who examined the male detainee reported that her findings "neither support nor contradict the allegations." No action was taken against any CJSOTF-AP personnel as a result of the investigation.
  • 2004-05-25, Unknown, Iraq
    • Recollections of CACI personnel at Abu Ghraib. Does not include any abuse directly witnessed at Abu Ghraib, but states that "a lot of detainees came to Abu Ghraib abused." Mentions "a family who was brought in because they were supposedly Fedayeen." States that an "individual who had been abused said that he remembers one of the Americans had a flag on his arm."
  • 2004-05-25, Abu Ghraib (Baghdad Correctional Facility (BCCF)), Iraq, Death
    • Recollections of CACI personnel at Abu Ghraib of instances of detainee abuse. The individual "heard that a soldier took a female detainee and took her shirt off" and mentions in the statement that "a female MP" hit a detainee "on his legs to make him open his legs," after which the detainee was "pulled up and pushed against the wall." Statement reports that detainees would come into the medical facility with "broken shoulders" and "others came in on crutches"' the detainees "did not know who beat them." Detainees were "abused with cigarette burns and electric shocks," and one detainee "stated that [redacted] would stick a bottle up his rectum." Another detainee "had a handicap and was beat up very bad." A detainee "said he was tortured for 7 days at night in the palace." Statement also refers to "cold showers." Statement concludes by saying that "the new unit that has taken over is much better and more organized."
  • 2004-05-25, Abu Ghraib (Baghdad Correctional Facility (BCCF)), Iraq
    • Recollections of a CACI personnel at Abu Ghraib, who claims to have "never witnessed any physical abuse in Abu Ghraib," but who reports "a lot of yelling and screaming during in-processing." Reports claims by "two ladies," one of whom said that a member of the Iraqi police "would beat them up and threaten them with their children. One boy was crying because he was sexually abused with a stick up his rectum." One detainee reported that "[redacted] took her older brother outside and beat him until he passed out." Another detainee reported being told that "if he wanted to see his wife and children, he had to pay some money.... His wife delivered the money but he never saw her." A detainee "was naked and given a cold shower. He was placed on sleep patterns and forced to be naked." Statement claims that interrogators "didn't get any information on what was acceptable and what was not acceptable."
  • 2004-05-25, Abu Ghraib (Baghdad Correctional Facility (BCCF)), Iraq
    • Recollections of CACI personnel at Abu Ghraib, who claims to have personally "never witnessed any abuse of detainees" or been aware of "any photos or videos with detainees." One detainee complained about being given a shower "with a female MP guarding him." Another prisoner reported being "transported in the trunk of a vehicle." The statement also refers to "electrocutions."
  • 2004-05-25, Abu Ghraib (Baghdad Correctional Facility (BCCF)), Iraq
    • Recollections by CACI personnel at Abu Ghraib, who states that "there were no doubts on the boundaries when we were dealing with detainees. We knew we needed approval from the CG to use interrogation techniques which went beyond the IRQEs." Reports seeing "an older gentleman (detainee) being made to kneel), as well as hearing a shot and finding out later that an individual "had been hit on the side of the head with a rubber bullet." States that "[redacted] was talking to a bunch of people. He was telling them that he had shaved the hair of a detainee and put on women's underwear." Refers to "detainees who complained that [redacted], with the coalition, would torture."