| WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today expressed her concern
about the long term detention of 13,000 Iraqis, including juveniles, without
being formally charged, adding that this policy “further aggravates distrust
of our troops” thus putting them in greater danger.
In
a letter to Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, Administrator of the Coalition Provisional
Authority, Schakowsky wrote: “In accordance with the standards of basic
human rights, detained civilians must be released in the shortest possible
period of time, unless they are charged with a recognized criminal offense
and brought to trial…The continued imprisonment of Iraqi detainees without
explanation is sure to further aggravate distrust of our troops—further
endangering their lives. …We cannot expect to successfully help Iraq
set up an effective democracy if we do not live up to democratic principles
ourselves.”
Below
is Schakowsky’s letter to Ambassador Bremer:
February
11, 2004
Ambassador
L. Paul Bremer
Administrator
of the Coalition Provisional Authority
1000
Defense Pentagon
Room
2E791
Washington,
D.C. 20310
Dear
Ambassador Bremer:
I
am concerned about the status of Iraqi citizens, and particularly children,
currently imprisoned by U.S. Forces in Iraq. I understand that there
are approximately 13,000 Iraqi prisoners detained by U.S. forces—most of
whom have not been formally charged.
According
to family members many Iraqi detainees were handcuffed, blinded, and taken
away without any explanation. In accordance with the standards of
basic human rights, detained civilians must be released in the shortest
possible period of time, unless they are charged with a recognized criminal
offense and brought to trial. In all circumstances, they must be allowed
the right to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. The United
States can and should live up to that standard. The continued imprisonment
of Iraqi detainees without explanation is sure to further aggravate distrust
of our troops—further endangering their lives. Moreover, we cannot
expect to successfully help Iraq set up an effective democracy if we do
not live up to democratic principles ourselves.
While
I am glad to see that U.S. forces have recently undertaken a plan to release
506 prisoners who have been identified as non-violent, I am disturbed to
hear that this group includes 28 juveniles. Jailing young people
without due process runs the risk of instilling a distrust, fear, and hatred
of our country that could last for generations. I am even more disturbed
by reports on the British Broadcasting Channel (BBC) that show children
in Iraq as young as ages 13 and 10 held in crowded prisons with adults.
The
recognition that children are entitled to special care and assistance has
been formally recognized by our nation and the international community
in the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. We
must not abandon that principle in our detainment of Iraqis. In our
own nation, we recognize the fact that young offenders must be held and
treated differently from adults. We should also respect that difference
in Iraq.
I
would like to know what steps you are taking to ensure that U.S. forces
are respecting the human rights of Iraqi prisoners. Specifically,
I would like a timeline of when you expect to either formally charge or
release all Iraqi detainees. Additionally, I would like to know the
number of juveniles in detention and what provisions are being made for
them.
Again,
thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward
to your response to my questions.
Sincerely,
Jan
Schakowsky
Member
of Congress |
