JOINT DETENTION INSPECTION: SUBSTANDARD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001019 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2016 TAGS: MOPS MARR PHUM PGOV IZ SUBJECT: JOINT DETENTION INSPECTION: SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS, OVERWHELMINGLY SUNNI ARAB Classified By: Acting POLMIL COUNS Evan G. Reade for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 22, the Joint Inspection Detention Facility Team (JIDFT) conducted its sixth unannounced inspection. The inspection took place at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) detention facility known as al Baladiyat, located at 3rd Public Order Brigade (POB) Headquarters in Sadr City. The facility housed 203 detainees in substandard conditions. In our informal polling, it was found that over 90% were Sunni Arabs from the Sunni Arab-dominated Baghdad neighborhoods of Dora and Salman Pak, while the remaining detainees were Shia from the same areas. Most detainees interviewed said they have been in detention for over two months without access to a lawyer, have no understanding of the allegations against them, and all have been denied communication with family members. Facility management did not deny these allegations, and added that the assigned investigative judge has not been to the facility in over tendays. They also said they have been instructed that family visitation is against MoI policy. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY CONT. Of the 203 detainees, the facility had personal files for 151, accompanied by judicial orders authorizing their detention. We were told the remaining 52 detainees had recently been transferred from the POB headquarters (Camp Justice) due to a lack of space at that facility. While there was a letter signed by a judge authorizing the detention of the 52 individuals, there were no personal files for any of them at the facility. In a random review of the 151 files on hand, it was found that many detainees are being held on vague allegations made by "secret sources" in their neighborhoods without any corroborating evidence. None of the detainees complained of recent abuse, although some complained they were physically abused by Iraqi units at the time of arrest. -------------- PRIMARY AREAS OF CONCERN -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Cleanliness. The facility housed 203 detainees in six rooms, about 15, x 30,. Each room held approximately 35 detainees. The rooms were dirty, unswept and were poorly ventilated. There were no toilets, shower facilities, or access to running water in the rooms. There was little to no bedding available for the detainees except for a few blankets or fragments of cardboard boxes. The detainees are not allowed outside or given access to sunlight. Twice a day, they are allowed out of the rooms to use the bathroom down the hall. Most rooms contained water bottles full of urine. Detainees complained that they were only allowed to shower once a week or less. These unsanitary conditions undoubtedly contributed to the horrendous odor that wafted from each room and the lice infestation that was observed. (NOTE: Upon the inspection team,s insistence, management allowed all detainees to shower. Members of the team monitored the process to ensure completion.) ¶4. (SBU) Medical Care. There is no on-site medical. We were told that if urgent medical care is needed, the detainee is taken to an Iraqi hospital for care. While none of detainees currently needed urgent medical care, many appear to be in need of routine medical care for minor illnesses or preexisting medical conditions. The facility had no means to screen detainees to determine if they were infectious or in need of medical care. ¶5. (SBU) Physical Abuse. None of the detainees complained of recent abuse although some complained of being physically abused by the Iraqi units that captured them. ¶6. (SBU) Food and Water Supply. The detainees are fed three times a day but with minimal portions. These food rations consist of an extremely high starch diet of rice and bread, along with some form of lentil soup or sauce. No other forms of food, such as meats, fruits, or vegetables are provided to the detainees. While water bottles are available, detainees were dehydrating themselves because they are only allowed to go to the bathroom twice a day. ¶7. (SBU) Bedding and Clothing. There was little to no bedding made available for the detainees. Some detainees had torn up cardboard boxes to lie on or had a thin blanket, but approximately 75% of the detainees had nothing to lie on. Clothing was not provided nor was any means of washing clothes made available. ¶8. (SBU) Access to Families. Detainees were not allowed to communicate with family members. One detention official stated that it was a MoI internal policy that prohibited any of the detainees outside communication. Later during the inspection process, the new facility commander stated that he was implementing a new policy and would allow family visits starting on April 1, 2006. ¶9. (SBU) Access to Judicial Process. The investigative judge assigned to the facility was not present during the inspection. Of the 203 detainees, 151 had personal files, including a judicial orderauthorizing their detention. We were told the remaining 52 detainees had recently been transferred from the POB headquarters (Camp Justice) due to a lack of space at that facility. While there was a letter signed by a judge authorizing the detention of the 52 individuals, there were no files for any of them. A random review of the files on hand showed that most files only contained vague allegations against the detainees such as "he commits violence against Shia" or "he is involved in bomb making". There was no evidence in the files of investigation by either judicial or MoI investigators into the allegations. ¶10. (SBU) Ethnic-Sectarian Issues. In an informal poll conducted during the inspection, it was found that over 90% of the detainees were Sunni Arabs from the Dora and Salman Pak area of Baghdad while the remaining number were Shia from the same locations. Both Baghdad neighborhoods are Sunni Arab dominated. -------------- FOLLOW UP ACTION -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Iraqi and MNF-I team representatives will draft separate findings to submit to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior. ¶12. (SBU) MNF-I will recommend a SPTTs team visit the detention center to train staff on preventative medical care. Simple procedures can easily be implemented to reduce the likelihood of disease and infestation. For example, a coordinated effort can be made to delouse the detainees, clean the detention cells and wash the detainees, clothing to get rid of the lice. Detainees should be allowed access to the toilets at least four times per day and allowed outside in the sunlight at least once a day. ¶13. (SBU) The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights member on the team will send a follow up team to the facility next week to follow up on the 52 individuals detained without personal files, review the progress made by the detention management to implement a family visitation policy, and check on the status of the investigative judge assigned to the facility. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶14. (C) COMMENT: The joint inspections conducted thus far have found that the Iraqi detention system is overloaded, underfunded, mismanaged, and inherently abusive. Real reform of this sector will take commitment, resources, time, and coordination across several ministries. Detainees are left to languish in substandard "warehouse" situations without access to families or legal counsel and under the supervision of untrained guards without clear authorities. Because so many detainees lack complete case files, intimidation and bribery of judges as well as induced confessions are a serious issue. Further, limited judicial capacity mandates long waits for detainee hearings and trials. We will continue our efforts to assist the Iraqis in detention reform. However, the new Iraqi government, once established, must make reform a priority. KHALILZAD