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HRW Says Secret Prison Still Operating In Baghdad


The report raises fresh concerns about the treatment of detainees in Iraq. (file photo)
The report raises fresh concerns about the treatment of detainees in Iraq. (file photo)
Human Rights Watch is reporting that Iraqis are still being illegally detained at a Baghdad prison that the Iraq government claimed was shut down last year.

Citing victims, witnesses, and government officials, the New York-based rights group says in a new report that Iraqi security forces have been "grabbing people outside of the law, without trial or known charges, and hiding them away in incommunicado sites," including the Camp Honor prison.

Says Joe Stork, the deputy Middle East director for HRW:

"The Iraqi government should immediately reveal the names and locations of all detainees, promptly free those not charged with crimes, and bring those facing charges before an independent judicial authority.”

It was officially announced one year ago that the facility, located inside the high-security diplomatic Green Zone, had been closed by Iraqi authorities.

Analysts say the Human Rights Watch report raises fresh concerns about the treatment of detainees in Iraq since the government took over the country's prison system following the departure of U.S. troops in December.

With reporting by AP

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"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.

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