 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
American Muslim organizations By Abdus Sattar Ghazali American Muslim organizations have express deep concern over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American and British soldiers and private contractors. Last week, CBS broadcast images showing Iraqis prisoners being tormented by their U.S. captors. An internal military report determined that the prisoners were subjected to "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses." Since those initial allegations have been reported worldwide, more former prisoners have come forward to allege inhumane treatment by U.S. and British troops throughout Iraq. American Muslim organizations called for a congressional investigation into torture of prisoners by American military personnel in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. They believe that the majority of “our military do not engage in such heinous behavior but the fact these photographs were discovered by accident raises legitimate concerns as to whether such reprehensible acts are taking place in other parts of our military occupation.” The organizations said that this behavior of US soldiers and private contractors has caused incalculable damage to America’s image abroad, particularly in the Muslim world, and has significantly increased the risk to US soldiers on the ground in Iraq. The organizations called upon fellow Americans to contact their Congressional representative demanding a inquiry into U.S. military behavior at Abu Ghraib and to root out any other such barbaric acts being committed in our country's name. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) President Mary Rose Oakar called on the military and the Bush Administration to act quickly and decisively against those who performed, tolerated or authorized these abuses. Former Congresswoman Oakar also stressed the need to "make structural changes to ensure that such outrages are never again repeated." The American Muslim Voice (AMV) said we believe that the acts of these soldiers do not represent the military as a whole but the barbarity of these acts requires an immediate response and punishment for those responsible. The AMV Executive Director, Samina Faheem Sundas, called upon fellow Americans to contact their Congressional representative demanding an inquiry into U.S. military behavior at Abu Ghraib and to root out any other such barbaric acts being committed in our country's name. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for a congressional investigation into torture of prisoners by American military personnel in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison and urged international inspections of all American detention facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. A CAIR statement said that reprimands given to a handful of soldiers involved in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners were also criticized as a "slap on the wrist" that shows military authorities are incapable of dealing with an issue that may have already caused irreparable harm to America's image in the Muslim world. "Instead of getting a slap on the wrist, everyone who took part in or permitted these horrific acts needs to serve time in prison," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "This scandal must be investigated by Congress to determine the true extent of the abuse and to learn whether the abuses were in fact part of a widespread pattern of human rights violations in U.S. detention facilities worldwide." Awad said U.S. prisons in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay must be opened to international inspectors and to Red Cross and Red Crescent officials. He added that there have been persistent reports of prison abuses that have largely been ignored by government officials. CAIR later called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to "put America's interests first" by resigning over his handling of the growing prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq. In its second statement on the issue, the CAIR said: "As Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld bears ultimate responsibility for the brutal and humiliating actions of American troops and for the poor handling of the scandal by the military establishment. He must also take responsibility for fostering an atmosphere in which the traditional rules of war and norms of international law are treated as excess baggage. "With responsibility comes accountability. Secretary Rumsfeld and his entire management team must put America's interests first by resigning their posts. If he and his top advisors do not resign, they should be removed by President Bush. No other action could possibly help mitigate the devastating impact this scandal has had on our nation's image worldwide," the CAIR statement concluded The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) called for immediate international and Congressional investigations into the sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American military police at the Abu Ghraib prison facility in Baghdad, Iraq. “We are also calling for swift prosecution of the perpetrators and the military command staff that reportedly turned a blind eye to these acts of barbarity. Photographs released Friday provide shocking evidence of our military's behavior in its occupation of Iraq. These acts by our soldiers must not go unpunished,” a MPAC statement said. The MPAC statement pointed out that “while we believe the majority of our military do not engage in such heinous behavior, the fact these photographs were discovered by accident raises legitimate concerns as to whether such reprehensible acts are taking place in other parts of our military occupation.” “Furthermore, our fellow citizens should realize the depicted behavior has caused incalculable damage to our country in the Muslim world, and has significantly increased the risk to our soldiers on the ground in Iraq. These photos are more than a public relations problem; anger in the Muslim world will take more than a few weeks to dissipate,” the MPAC statement added. Later in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the MPAC it is also concerned about reports that foreign contractors are giving advice and even orders to U.S. soldiers on ways to handle and treat prisoners. We ask that the Pentagon provide full disclosure on exactly who these foreign elements are and why they are used in operations that are so sensitive to our national security interests. 1) Court-marshal of general officers involved in these horrific acts of abuse. “The incalculable damage this scandal has caused our country can not be underestimated. This is more than a mere public relations problem -- it is a human rights violation of the first order committed by our military,” the MPAC letter concluded. May 5, 2004 |