Top Sunni Official Fired Over Rape Case

The Associated Press
By HAMZA HENDAWI
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Wed, 21 Feb 2007 08:55 MST

http://www2.rt66.com/newap/D8NE6NE00.html

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Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday fired a top Sunni official who had called for an international investigation into the rape allegations leveled by a Sunni Arab woman against three members of the Shiite-dominated security forces.

A statement by al-Maliki's office gave no reason in announcing the dismissal of Ahmed Abdul-Ghafour al-Samaraie, head of the Sunni Endowments. Al-Samaraie, whose organization cares for Sunni mosques and shrines in Iraq, had joined other prominent Sunnis in criticizing the government's handling of the case.

Al-Samaraie, speaking from Amman in neighboring Jordan, disputed al-Maliki's right to fire him, arguing that only Iraq's Presidential Council _ which comprises President Jalal Talabani and his two deputies _ has that authority.

He said the woman who made the rape allegations was one of many who he said are sexually assaulted by the security forces. "Many girls are raped but they refuse to appear in the media so as not to tarnish their reputations," he said.

The 20-year-old woman said she was assaulted Sunday at a police garrison where she was taken on suspicion of helping Sunni insurgents.

Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, the chief U.S. military spokesman, said the woman was admitted to a U.S.-run medical facility Sunday and was released the next day. He refused to divulge details of her medical treatment or examination for privacy reasons, and said she left the hospital with her medical reports.

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Yet another step deeper into the abyss of sectarianism.

Second Case of Iraq Rape Charges Surface
The Associated Press
By HAMZA HENDAWI
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:16 MST

http://www2.rt66.com/newap/D8NEOJS00.html

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Regardless of the truth, a second allegation within a single week is likely to undermine further the reputation of Iraq's security services, which the U.S. hopes can take over from coalition troops so the Americans and their allies can go home.

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A lieutenant and three enlisted men denied the charge but later confessed after they were confronted by the woman

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I've never been confronted by a 50 year old :o

From a training standpoint, what I find most interesting is information I read concerning the second case. Did anyone else notice that the Iraqi Lt. and 3 soldiers were supposedly arrested at gunpoint by one of their own, who came in later? If true, someone on that soldier's training team got through to him - which will be quickly glossed over in the rush to condemn the training effort.

Hello JM and welcome aboard !

The articles so far do not mention anything about a subsequent arrest by one of their own.

A shame, it should be mentioned. A little hope with these instances vs glossed over.

I think the problem is less with criticism over the training program than with the political purposes these episodes are being put to by Iraqi political factions. See PM Maliki's rapid turnaround from demanding an investigation to proclaiming the soldiers innocent and promising rewards for them. See also the posturing of the Sunni politicians.

Thanks Stan!

Found this on IraqSlogger, for what it's worth:

Another Sunni Woman Raped by Security Forces
Four Iraqi Soldiers Confessed, Charged With Crime
Posted 0 hr. 24 min. ago
As the scandal over the alleged rape of a 20-year-old Sunni woman by Iraqi police last weekend continues to simmer, it has been revealed that incident was the second time last week Iraqi security forces were denounced for allegedly raping a Sunni woman.

In the first case, three grunts and a lieutenant have been accused of raping a middle-aged, married mother of eleven and attempting to rape two of her daughters in Tal Afar northern Iraq. The case has been referred to the judiciary for prosecution.

According to news accounts quoting Gen. Njim Abdullah, the mayor of Tal Afar, security forces were performing a sweep for weapons and insurgents when the attack took place.

The men initially denied the charges but later confessed after the woman personally confronted them.

The three soldiers admitted to assaulting the woman while their lieutenant filmed the attack with a cell phone camera. A fifth soldier apparently happened upon the scene while it was in progress and pointed a gun at his comrades to force them to stop.

The BBC quoted Gen. Abdullah as saying: "One of the soldiers did not approve. His name is Mushtaq Taleb from Basra. He wanted to stop his comrades by threatening them with weapons because it is an immoral act, but the rape took place anyway."

Thanks for the quick work JM !

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The BBC quoted Gen. Abdullah as saying: "One of the soldiers did not approve. His name is Mushtaq Taleb from Basra. He wanted to stop his comrades by threatening them with weapons because it is an immoral act, but the rape took place anyway."

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God, that is just Foxtrotingly Sad !

Could you send us the link ?

Regards, Stan

Agreed, Stan.

Here's the link: http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php...ecurity_Forces