CPTnet
October 1, 2004

IRAQ: CPT releases updated report on Iraqi detainees

On September 30, 2004, the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in Iraq announced
the release of its follow-up report on seventy-two Iraqi detainees. The
September 2004 report updates findings on the Multinational Force's (MNF)
detention system in Iraq and includes three previously unreleased
testimonies from former detainees.

CPT began disseminating the report to representatives from the MNF, Interim
Government of Iraq (IGI) and United Nations, as well as other international
NGOs and the media.

CPT's primary concerns regarding the MNF's current detention system are the
following:

1. Released detainees continue to report abuses in a variety of MNF
detention facilities, even after the MFN took actions to correct problems at
the Abu Ghraib detention facility in April of 2004.

2. The MNF and the Interim Government of Iraq are in standing
violation of regulations under international humanitarian law for
approximately 5,000 security detainees in Iraq.

3. The MFN limits information on security detainees making it difficult
for families to confirm the detention of relatives.

In the January 2004 "Report and Recommendations on Iraqi Detainees," CPT
expressed concerns that any mistreatment of the Iraqi people could lead to
long-term problems, including the following:

1. Increasing numbers of Iraqi people joining resistance groups

2. Increasing danger of attacks against the MNF and other foreign
nationals

3. Increased incidents of human rights violations against the people of
Iraq

 The latest report reiterates these concerns. A just and humane detention
system is essential to a free and democratic Iraq. CPT Iraq praises the
improvements the MNF has made since January 2004, and urges the MNF to
improve on the concerns noted in this report immediately.

People wishing to read the twenty-three page report may go to the CPT
homepage (www.cpt.org) and click on "Report: Update on Iraqi detainees"
(about halfway down the page.)