The Deep Wound That Will Not Close

Abu Ghraib Torture Victims Deserve Compensation

5-13-2011 - Abu Ghraib. Eight years ago the Iraqi prison was the site of physical and psychological torture, rape, sodomy and murder of Iraqi prisoners committed by Americans under the authority of Americans. While 11 soldiers were convicted on detainee abuse charges and Army investigations implicated at least five private contractors in similar crimes, no contractor was ever even charged.

But what about the victims?

Are they entitled to compensation for what they suffered at the hands of Americans? In fact the UN Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – two of the most important international human rights treaties to which the United States is a party – not only prohibit such conduct but require States to provide “enforceable” or “effective” remedies to victims.

In fact, not one victim of official cruelty in U.S. custody, whether in Iraq, Afghanistan, CIA detention abroad, Guantanamo or elsewhere, has had access to an enforceable, effective remedy. Why? Because the Bush administration, and then the Obama administration, have successfully argued in court that allowing these claims to be heard would endanger national security. {continued}