Abu Ghraib

See also: Abu Ghraib prison and Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse

The city of Abu Ghraib (BGN/PCGN romanization: Abū Ghurayb; أبو غريب in Arabic) in Iraq is located 32 kilometres (20 mi) west of Baghdad just north of the Baghdad International Airport. It has between 750,000 and 1.5 million inhabitants. The old road to Jordan passes through Abu Ghraib. The government of Iraq created the Abu-Ghraib district in 1944.

The city is the site of Abu Ghraib prison, which was one of the sites where political dissidents were incarcerated under former ruler Saddam Hussein. Many of these dissidents were executed. In 2003, Abu Ghraib prison earned international notoriety and the scorn of human rights advocates for alleged abuses by members of the United States Army Reserve during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

The scandal has led to the successful courts-martial of many reservists. In addition to the varying lengths of sentences, most were given dishonorable or bad conduct discharges from the military. The longest sentence, ten years, was given to the ringleader, Specialist Charles Graner on January 15, 2005. Graner was found guilty of maltreatment, conspiracy to commit maltreatment, cruelty, assault, indecency, adultery, obstruction of justice, and failing to protect detainees from abuse. Arguably, the most infamous reservist is Lynndie England, who, on September 27, 2005, was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of committing an indecent act, and four counts of maltreating detainees; she was acquitted of a second conspiracy charge. She was sentenced to three years out of a possible ten years and dishonorably discharged. Graner is believed to be the father of England's son, Carter England, who was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Sunday, October 9, 2004. The boy is living with England's parents in West Virginia.

External links

NPR story on Abu-Ghraib pronunciation

Cities along the Silk Road | Cities and towns in Iraq

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Abu Ghraib

External links