Rights Group Alleges Thousands of Iraqi Women Detained, Abused
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Marcio Silva/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A leading human rights group has accused the Iraqi government of illegally detaining thousands of women, contrary to Baghdad’s promise to reform their system of justice.
In a report released Thursday, New York-based Human Rights Watch charges the Iraqis with rounding up women suspected of terrorist activity and keeping them locked up indefinitely without ever being charged.
Furthermore, the group says it has received accounts of the female detainees being mentally, physically and sexually abused by their captors on a regular basis.
Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, says instead of making their country safer, the actions of Iraqi security forces and officials will only cause conditions to further deteriorate.
Among other things, Human Rights Watch wants the Iraqi government to acknowledge and immediately cease the abuse of women and institute civil rights reforms.
According to figures from the prime minister’s office, most of the 4,200 women in detention are Sunni Muslim.
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