Iraqis reopen, rename Abu Ghraib prison

[unhappycamper]

A cell is seen Feb. 21 at a renovated Abu Ghraib prison, now renamed Baghdad Central Prison. Iraq has reopened the notorious prison west of Baghdad. The heavily fortified compound has come to symbolize past U.S. abuse of prisoners after photos released in 2004 showed U.S. soldiers sexually humiliating inmates there.


Iraqis reopen, rename Abu Ghraib prison
By Kim Gamel - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Feb 21, 2009 13:37:02 EST

BAGHDAD — A gym, barber shop and planters of plastic flowers: Welcome to the gentler face of the infamous Abu Ghraib prison.

The lockup where U.S. military guards tortured and humiliated Iraqi prisoners west of Baghdad has reopened with fresh paint and a new name in a bid to shed its notorious reputation.

Mohammed al-Zeidi, the assistant director of the Iraqi Rehabilitation Department, insisted the new prison would be operated in accordance with international standards.

“All kinds of human rights violations took place in this prison. So we felt that it was our duty to rehabilitate the prison,” he said Saturday during a press tour of the grounds. “We turned it into something like a resort not prison. The first step was to change the name.”

Iraqi officials defended their decision to reopen the facility — now called the Baghdad Central Prison — saying they need the space as the U.S. military has begun handing over the thousands of detainees in its custody under a new security agreement that took effect Jan. 1.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_abu_ghraib_reopens_022109/%2e



uhc comment: I wonder if they had Duncan 'Lemon Chicken' Hunter in to consult about the menu. :eyes:

[jimshoes]

1. Every dime spent in Iraq is

a dime that should be being spent here in the USA. Besides a bunch of freeper types and military contractors, who else thinks spending billions over there is somehow good for America?