Human Rights Groups Condmen U.S. Treatment of Iraqi Prisoners

May 27, 2004

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-05/27/article06.shtml

On May 27, 2004 IslamOnline.net reported, "Human rights groups said they strongly condemn U.S. soldiers' practices of forcing Iraqi prisoners to denounce Islam as a way to avoid torture in the U.S.-run Abu Gharib prison, if such reports were true. 'We condemn these acts in the strongest way just as we condemn all other types of abuses and human rights violations that have allegedly taken place in Abu Gharib,' said Nicole Shoueiry, Middle East press officer for Amnesty International. The Washington Post reported Saturday that in addition of being beaten and sexually humiliated by U.S. soldiers, some of the Iraqi detainees at Abu Gharib 'were pressed to denounce Islam or were force-fed pork and liquor.' According to the Islamic Shari’ah, Muslims are prohibited from eating pork or drinking liquor. Shoueiry said that if it turns out to be true that U.S. guards forced Iraqi detainees to curse or denounce their religion, this should be seriously dealt with. 'This is a very serious violation to Geneva conventions as well as all other humanitarian laws, that's why it must be urgently addressed,' she added."