In Iraq, Sexual Assault Incidents Are Brushed Aside, Report Says

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD — The girl was all alone on the desolate fringe of Baghdad, crying and pleading for help. She and her two sisters had been abducted by a gang, she said through her tears, and held captive for weeks. She had escaped, but she had been forced to leave her sisters behind.

The elderly man in a pickup recoiled. He didn't want to help this girl — surely she'd been defiled. Finally, he relented.

But after half an hour, he stopped near a mosque and told her to get out.

Then he sped off — the only witness who could have helped police trace the house where the girl, Mary, 15, her sisters and at least seven other girls as young as 6 had been held prisoner.

The next person Mary met — a woman this time — was slightly more helpful. She put Mary in a taxi with a strange man, wrote a note and told him to take the girl to coalition forces.
snip>

Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner who until recently oversaw the Iraqi police, has said that reforming their attitudes to rape is a high priority, but the message has not filtered down to many Iraqi policemen.

Police Lt. Col. Abbas Jasim, whose station, Al Khadraq, covers most of west Baghdad, insisted that rape affects only non-Islamic societies. "Our Islamic religion forbids these acts and even our criminals are affected, so they are afraid to commit rape," he said.

Another police colonel at the station, Mohammed Abdul Raheem, said he did not know of a single genuine case in his 26 years in the force.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-fg-rape26oct26,1,5085662.story?coll=la-iraq-complete

[kalian]

1. Its all about "freedom"

Strange...but these things did not happen under Saddam. He had all the
nutcases in jail.

[Military Brat]

2. Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose

The freedom to be abused, molested, and raped. Thanks, bush! Some of these girls and women will, no doubt, be killed for defiling the family honor. Praise be to bush!

It's enough to make you sick, but it's never enough to make bush stop.

[blackjack]

3. He had all the nutcases in jail.

So then you're saying he his own sons locked up? Along w/half his own security police? Bwhahaha, gimme a break. That's a good one.......Saddam w/the scales of justice like lady justice.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi blackjack!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Barrett808]

10. The criminals were deployed as another weapon of the insurgency

Purely a strategic decision, albeit a ruthless one. Seems to be working pretty well.

[pansypoo53219]

4. yes george

things are MUCH BETTER now that sadaam is gone.
ANARCHY is ALWAYS better than dictatorship.

[bleedingheart]

6. In a culture where women are viewed as property

and where a "defiled" girl is seen as dirty... and worthless...you will never see the end of rape.

I respect people's cultures, religions...etc but I one thing I will never accept is the way women are treated in many parts of the world..including this country.

[The Magistrate]

7. Hear Hear, Ma'am!

[pansypoo53219]

8. they used to be safe under the secular sadaam

yes, george is a great misleader

[denverbill]

9. Kobe should think about Iraq for his next medical retreat.