Inside Iraq's Only Women's Prison

Women And Their Children Held In Jail Because Their Husbands Are Accused Of Terrorism

(CBS)  Imagine women in prison because their husbands are accused of terrorism. Now imagine their infants and children in prison with them. Worst of all, it seems they have no way out.

CBS News Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer visited such a place with Iraqi Vice President Tareq al Hashemi, who had come to inspect Iraq's only women's jail.

The women prisoners of Khadimiya jail had been waiting a long time for the chance to be heard, some shouting from behind bars:

"Our husbands were accused ... and we were arrested."

"Many of us have been raped."

"We were pregnant and lost our babies."

Almost 200 inmates live in the prison, many with their children. Some of the babies were born behind bars.

Most of the women are being held on vague terrorism charges, with little or no evidence and no hope of legal advice -- or even a court date.

"They accused my husband," one woman said. "Then arrested me too but I've done nothing!"

Another prisoner said through tears, "I was detained in the Green Zone by the Americans two years ago. I have no idea what's happened to my family."

With the cameras rolling, al Hashemi -- a smooth politician -- tried to reassure them.

"We'll appoint a committee to look into your cases," he told them.

But the women were having none of it.

Sitting cross-legged in her bunk, one replied, "I don't believe you. I've been waiting a year-and-a-half to find out why I am here."

And there were stories that al Hashemi would rather not have heard.

"I was raped after I was arrested," one woman claimed. "They have sentenced me to 20 years on terrorism charges."

Such a statement is taboo in a country where a women's honor is everything, and it makes the vice president squirm.

Al Hashemi told Palmer: "They try to talk openly but I just stopped them. It's damaging, in fact. Damaging. Damaging my personality being a vice president in fact that Iraqi women are treated like that."

When pressed, al Hashemi did confirm the women's accounts of abuse by police and interrogators -- long before they arrived in their overcrowded cells.

"This is the most critical area," he said. "Where the torturing, the rape, everything, all these bad experiences, fraud, malpractice is done at this stage."

Then they come to Khadimiya jail and wait for justice.

To the damaged and the despairing, it might as well be a life sentence.

[toolmangler-2009]

This story will be quickly buried because it makes people (Leaders) uncomfortable.

[cbs_oliver]

I wrote to Scheiffer about the issue of women and children being held hostage by Iraqi insurgents and US and Iraqi forces also when Jill Carol was captured. His only foicus was on Jill, who is now free and going to graduate school at Harvard. You may remember that the captives of Jill Carol listed one of their complaints/demands as the release of women and children held by US/Iraqi forces. Some of the Iraqi and probably Afgan and other women and children held by US forces at that time are probably still held or may dead by now.

Just another case of the depravity of our current leadership and the indifference of our fifth estate.

So, I am very pleased to see a story about the issue.

High praise for bringing forward an important issue.

It is flat out wrong to hold women and children and others (like some young men in Gitmo and elsewhere) hostage and threatoned with abuse in order to force cooperation or compliance from others.

[cbs_oliver]

It is a terrorist practice whoever does it.

[wardoglrs]

Privacy and Personal Liberty
The biggest threat to your privacy is the government. We must drastically limit the ability of government to
collect and store data regarding citizens%u2019 personal matters.
We must stop the move toward a national ID card system. All states are preparing to issue new driver%u2019s
licenses embedded with %u201Cstandard identifier%u201D data %u2014 a national ID. A national ID with new tracking
technologies means we%u2019re heading into an Orwellian world of no privacy. I voted against the Real ID Act in
March of 2005.
To date, the privacy focus has been on identity theft. It was Congress that created this danger by mandating
use of the standard identifier (currently your SSN) in the private sector. For example, banks use SSNs as
customer account identifiers because the government requires it.
We must also protect medical privacy. Right now, you%u2019re vulnerable. Under so-called %u201Cmedical privacy
protection%u201D rules, insurance companies and other entities have access to your personal medical information.
Financial privacy? Right now depositing $10,000 in your local bank will generate a %u201Csuspicious activity
report%u201D to the federal government.

[wardoglrs]

And then there%u2019s the so-called Patriot Act. As originally proposed,
%u2022 Expanded the federal government''s ability to use wiretaps without judicial oversight;
%u2022 Allowed nationwide search warrants non-specific to any given location, nor subject to
any local judicial oversight;
%u2022 Made it far easier for the government to monitor private internet usage;
%u2022 Authorized %u201Csneak and peek%u201D warrants enabling federal authorities to search a person%u2019s
home, office, or personal property without that person%u2019s knowledge; and
%u2022 Required libraries and bookstores to turn over records of books read by their patrons.
I have fought this fight for many years. I sponsored a bill to overturn the Patriot Act and have won some
victories, but today the threat to your liberty and privacy is very real. We need leadership at the top that
will prevent Washington from centralizing power and private data about our lives.

[arthall33]

Their only hope as OURS...is that Ron Paul is elected the next president of the U.S....................

[Krazcarl]

Can''t they treat thier women better than dogs. it seams to be a spiritual axiom women are slaves to get the men to submit, read the bible it was a key recruitment tactic then too.

[cbs_oliver]

Sorry to keep beating the drum here, but there is one other factor I would like to bring forward that relates to this story and to other stories that report prisoner abuse.

If prisoner abuse is allowed to be reported but not stopped then the reports can be used as terror tools against others.

Most torture is useless if done in the dark. There are better ways to get information. Publicised, torture is an effective weapon of terror which can be used to induce ccompliance or cooperation in others.

[ecm1980]

This is very said, very heartbreaking. The worst thing is that there is really nothing that can be done about it. Every country has their own way of doing things...whether we agree with it or not really doesn''t matter in the long run. I hope these women find some kind of justice...and I hope that in the mean time they can lean on eachother for support.

[wardoglrs]

The US Goverment did this. Cant you see. This is what we did to them by interferring in there affairs. That''s why they hate us/ That''s why they want to kill us. What the hell would you do if we were invaded by another country. would you lay there like a slain PIG. Or would you fight. We are feared in the world and one day it''s going to be PAYBACK TIME.

[ontheleft]

Move along right wingers. Nothing to see here. The Iraq war was a complete success and we have installed a wonderful government there. They''ll all live happily ever after thanks to us.

[freebirdin]

Wow! Here''s a new concept.

Prisoners insisting that they are innocent and abused. Perhaps Ramsey Clark can take up their cases.

If you listen to the propaganda machine its as if human rights by the Iraqi government is worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein.

These dayz unsubstantiated claims of torture are zealously welcomed by "human rights" activists eager to destroy Iraq''s young democracy.

[linfinster]

If prisoner abuse is allowed to be reported but not stopped then the reports can be used as terror tools against others.
Posted by CBS_Oliver at 07:45 PM : Dec 22, 2007

I wonder if publishing the report about the Saudi woman who was sentenced to be whipped and fined for her lawyer''s comments wasn''t just a political test of the publics opinion. Just a set up to see if we will allow more of our money to be stolen to fight this sad war. But you make a very good point.

[jeff-fla]

And people wonder why we can''t seem to win there hearts and minds. After all. We are bringing the American way of life to them. Who could live without fast food, no due process, and lets not leave out Christ. We even have a basic training camp for our troops. Gods basic training camp. Convert or kill.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158531,00.html?ESRC=navy-a.nl

[uzzisanta]

Its easy to just criticize people try''n on the sidelines. Its easy to just sit back in yer armchairs and say: "Well ain''t dat stupid!" Quite another to have an alternative solution. Ain''t it Democrat. I don''t know what pisses me off worse. The right wing lunatics in the pockets of bankers killing people, or you saying you had a better idea.

[ringading3]

It is not American military holding these women terrosist in prison! They are being held by their own countrymen. Next time they should not support terrorist. TOO BADD, so sad, NOT.

[beehive21-2009]

Amazing that bin laden,family
relatives camels and dogs are not only in prison, but alive at this time. they need to terminated ,now,if the punks families were arrested and instead halted,they might not be so fast to kill everyone.

[ringading3]

More Lefty BS from C_BS

[usmc1968]

Well this story when coupled with the Abu Gharib scandal is not surprising, one has too wonder where the writers for the popular show "24" and its hero the rogue CIA agent who tortures, threatens too kill women/children of alleged terrorists got their story line, most likely some CIA handlers gave them the stories out of their case files, no doubt the sadists in our society will view this with glee, just as those who think water boarding [a middle ages torture technique] is merely a new form of back stroke swimming, funny how the Nazi tortures, war crimes were justified too as "National Security", end justified the means, and one can see how far that society went and how it ended for its citizens who sat blindly by and allowed it, man men/women rise too power, via deception, creating a boogie man [jews in case of Nazi''s], the islamofacists, funny how theres not one wit of difference between the republican facists of today and these boogie men terrorists, both will do anything and justify it as "patriotism" there is a old saying patriostism is the last refuge of a scoundrel...., real americans who believe in the US constitution will find this story repulsive, only those who would have made good SS men in Nazi germany will find any glee in this story...

[jeff-fla]

Thank you usmc1968

[rowdytexan2]

This is the democracy that we''re bringing to them?

You could be right on the ''they shouldn''t be in bed with terrorists'' thing. At least if that was here. But their marriages are arranged, they don''t really have a lot of choice about their bed partners.

Remember all the hoo hah with the pictures of women actually voting in Iraq? Somehow I doubt they''ll ever see that day again. And close to 4,000 soldiers went to their death believing in this ***.

When Bush and Cheney get the oil contracts they want, they''ll be out of there like rats hearing a trap snap. And these women will be dead.

[missingamerica]

"We''ll appoint a committee...".

Wow. When did our Congress find the time in their busy legislative lives to train these guys?

[cdfoxtrot]

Is this the moron-in-chief''s idea of progress? This disgraceful treatment of human beings will likely create at least a few who will grow up to despise all things American. And that''s aside from the immoral involvement of our soldiers who are there in our name. Shame on us for sitting by and letting this happen.

[cdfoxtrot]

It is not American military holding these women terrosist in prison! They are being held by their own countrymen. Next time they should not support terrorist. TOO BADD, so sad, NOT.

Posted by ringAding3

These are not "terrorists". Can''t you read?? They have not been charged with anything and don''t even know why they are being held. Are you really this stupid or are you just trying to get a response?

[ralphj53]

Decembeer 23, 2007
Hello;

NOW is the time for President BUSH to go to IRAQ, go and see those political leaders of this country, and RIGHT this situation.

And that''s not enough. He should ACTUALLY... VISIT the women''s prison, and see for himself exactly what''s going on.

If necessary, take interviews, take pictures, document everything they see that paints a picture of INJUSTICE that is STILL going on in IRAQ.

Then, he can take this documentaion before CONGRESS and finally be able to make a case. We cannot let ordinary IRAQUIS suffer this humilitaion for all the world to see.

If NOTHING is done for these women, then our four thousand AMERICAN soldiers will have died in VAIN. We AMERICANS would CERTAINLY not allow AMERICAN WOMEN to suffer these indignities, without hearing about them in our news media... EVERYDAY!!!! This is PRECISELY why American soldiers go to war and DIE for.

If President BUSH does NOTHING... then he will answer for this to a HIGHER AUTHORITY... after DEATH. This MISCARIAGE of justice cannot be allowed to continue.

Otherwise, we have NO BUSINESS getting ENTANGLED in foreign political squables to begin with. And then, I would have been CONVINCED that we should have gotten out a long time ago.

What other PROOF do we as AMERICANS... NEED?

Enough is enough.. Mr. Bush. Or your REPUBLICAN PARTY wouldn''t have a SNOWBALL''S chance in HELL!!!!.. IN THIS next ELECTION!

slim 6744

Freedom - GW Bush style.

Aren''t we all glad we forced democracy on them?

We''ve replaced one dictator with a Government full of them (including ours).

beehive21 wrote:

"Amazing that bin laden,family
relatives camels and dogs are not only in prison, but alive at this time. they need to terminated ,now,if the punks families were arrested and instead halted,they might not be so fast to kill everyone."

Eh?

[incog-nito]

What else is new. Every armed force needs "comfort women" to keep their ranks from going berzerk.

[bronwyyn]

Hasn''t it ALWAYS the women and children who suffer for the stupidity of men in any war?

PITTY THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN..THE MEN ARE COMPLETLY WITH OUT HONOR.

[closethippy1]

From the article:
"Imagine women in prison because their husbands are accused of terrorism. Now imagine their infants and children in prison with them. Worst of all, it seems they have no way out."

Well, yeah, in Israel. They''re either in jail or sitting on the rubble of their homes. The occupation itself is a prison for all 4 million Palestinians. It''s been going on for 40 years with no end in sight.
They don''t even have to do anything terroristic, just being themselves is enough reason for Israel to keep this going forever.

[radiob-2009]

They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.
There''s only one step down from here, baby,
It''s called the land of permanent bliss.
What''s a sweetheart like you doin'' in a dump like this?

[scottyusa]

Wow and we thought Abu Boo Boo was bad.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Women And Their Children Held In Jail Because Their Husbands Are Accused Of Terrorism"

Stop it, the neocons are getting ess-ee-ex ually excited.

"And why is this OUR problem?" Posted by TheGateway1

Because Bush caused it, his puppet government is only carrying out his orders.

[iceman_1960]

"And why is this OUR problem?" Posted by TheGateway1

The pro-war rhetoric about how 4,000 American lives was a small price to pay to spread the light of liberty and freedom in Iraq, makes it our problem.

If things like this go on now, what was their sacrifice for ?

[mcvet]

Your point of President Bush going to Iraq to investigate this is like saying The Prime Minister of Whoknowswhereistan is responsible to come to America, investigate and take photos/interviews at McDonalds, and report back to his political parties on actions to take to decrease fat content in fast food in America.

Not His Problem!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:42 AM : Dec 23, 2007
+ report abuse

Sparky! Did you miss a couple of the Reich Propaganda Releases when the WMD excuse fell appart for our invasion of this nation? You really need to review those statements of Sir Lies-A-Lot. Now I know it''s hard to keep up with all the LIES and "Mission''s" of the fuhrer but come on. HE PROMISED the new Government would RESPECT Women''s Rights... course he''s PROMISED so many things to get you in the Toe Tappers Association on the hook hasn''t he? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!

[nudistgirl19]

Who cares about them? Let them take care of their affaires. -- nudistconnect.com

[babsann28]

sad very sad that women and children have to pay for their husbands and fathers dumb yes dumb mistakes.

babsann28 wrote:

"sad very sad that women and children have to pay for their husbands and fathers dumb yes dumb mistakes."

Problem is, that no-one knows if their husbands did actually make a mistake (ie were terrorists) or were just innocent civilians caught up in a bad situation.

I''ve heard of numerous stories told by American servicemen that their job was to raid "suspected" terrorist households and arrest all males over the age of 13.

The vast majority of these "raids" were conducted on "bad" intelligence usually fed to them by Iraqis who bore grudges against the suspected "terrorists" for whatever reasons.

How many times have we heard of innocent civilians protecting their villages being killed and labeled as terrorists because it justifies their deaths?

By the actions of our pathetic leader, we have created a situation in Iraq where even children are punished for no good reason.

We need to fix this sh|t up now.

And we can start by holding GW Bush accountable for his actions.

[saftguy2]

Inside Iraq''s Only Women''s Prison:

This is truly a disturbing story however; I don''t like the fact that there was NEVER a mention that these jailings are the result of Iraq%u2019s new Government and its Police actions and NOT the US Military''s. Get it right CBS. You''ve lost another viewer of CBS News. Get it right AND get the whole story.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by MCVet at 09:35 AM : Dec 23, 2007

omg, lol

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by SafTGuy2 at 12:00 PM : Dec 23, 2007

Bingo!

SafTGuy2 wrote:

"This is truly a disturbing story however; I don''''t like the fact that there was NEVER a mention that these jailings are the result of Iraq%u2019s new Government and its Police actions and NOT the US Military''''s. Get it right CBS. You''''ve lost another viewer of CBS News. Get it right AND get the whole story."

Where did it say in the story that it was as a result of the US Military?

It didn''t.

Or are you just into drawing your own conclusions and not actually reading the article?

Go to Fox - they deserve you.

[deemsnyd]

It is pitiful that these women and children are being treated this way, but the really pitiful thing is that people think that somehow America/Bush is responsible for their treatment of women. Hello!!! Since when have they ever treated women with any respect? I see the point, but seriously, they have always tortured women, and sadly, probably always will.

[iceman_1960]

"It is pitiful that these women and children are being treated this way, but the really pitiful thing is that people think that somehow America/Bush is responsible for their treatment of women. Hello!!! Since when have they ever treated women with any respect? I see the point, but seriously, they have always tortured women, and sadly, probably always will."
- Posted by deemsnyd at 08:12 PM : Dec 23, 2007

Sadly, Bush and his supporters can"t have it both ways. Seriously.

"The United States Is Helping Iraqis Build Inclusive Democratic Institutions That Will Protect The Interests Of All The Iraqi People. By helping Iraqis build a democracy, America will win over those who doubted they had a place in the new Iraq, and we will undermine the terrorists and Saddamists, gain an ally in the War on Terror, inspire reformers across the Middle East, and make the American people more secure. Democracy takes different forms in different cultures, but successful free societies are built on common foundations of rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, a free economy, and freedom of worship."
- George W. Bush, 12/20/2007

Source:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051212-1.html

[saftguy2]

mcdazz wrote:

"Where did it say in the story that it was as a result of the US Military?"

That''s the point. You are correct mcdazz; they did not say "who" did the jailing. CBS left the reader/the viewer with the conclusion that it must have been the actions of the US Military. Why else have the reporter include that the duly DEMOCRATICALLY elected Vice President visited the prisoners? Why were their no statements or interviews with the US Military? They certainly could have stated "who" performed the jailing and why they remain jailed. Instead, they played on emotions and a sick dread that it must have been our guys that did it.

I am not a Bush lover nor am I a hater. I could live without the Fox channel too (I like the BBC). I just support our troops and I am sick of the Medias constant negative spin just to get ratings. CAUSE that was all it was about on the weekend before Christmas.... ratings.

Shame Shame CBS''s Elizabeth Palmer.

[iceman_1960]

"Democracy takes different forms in different cultures."

So says George W*anker Bush.

So in Iraq it takes the form of imprisoning and r*aping innocent women ?

Is this what 4,000 American troops died for ?

[deemsnyd]

Iceman_1960

I am well aware of what Bush stated as his objectives for Iraq. I am also aware of the fact that his idea is impossible, they are not capable. Their culture never has been. He was wrong. Do you believe that their barbarianism is anyone''s fault besides their own? I don''t. Seriously.

[usakousagi]

Its easy to just criticize people try''''n on the sidelines. Its easy to just sit back in yer armchairs and say: "Well ain''''t dat stupid!" Quite another to have an alternative solution. Ain''''t it Democrat. I don''''t know what pisses me off worse. The right wing lunatics in the pockets of bankers killing people, or you saying you had a better idea.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by uzzisanta

Yes... We are on the sidelines... yes a lot of us are saying we had better ideas. Guess what I had a better idea but I''m an 18 year old female wasn''t even old enough to vote at the time just paid attention and had a better idea. I don''t think anyone would have allowed me to implement it though what do you think? I really don''t think I have a choice. If it were my choice we would have never gone there, my cousin would be arguing with me over who has to say grace... This definitely not MY plan.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by SafTGuy2

The reason it wasn''t mentioned is because the "new Iraqi government and its'' police actions" are a direct result of the US military.

Weak try at disconnect, you must be from the GOP.

[Netterz]

Innocent til proven guilty no longer is available,unless you have alot of $ or know the right people in ANY country.