Torture and Death in Iraq - Eyewitness Account

To say that things in Iraq are ugly would be the understatement of the 21st century. I read the blog of a friend in Iraq on a regular basis. His writing gives me an idea of what the real Iraqi people are facing in their everyday lives. A few weeks ago he told of his fears of Cholera, and now there are hundreds of cases of the disease in Baghdad. Now his blog details the creative ways the militias and Al Qaeda have found to kill and torture innocent civilians.

In his words, “it’s a blessing now if an Iraqi dies by a bullet or an explosion.” As to the techniques that have sprung up, “the militias and AQ (Al Qaeda) seems to enjoy killing and I think they look at it as an art or something.” He talks further about a torture referred to as “Drilling”. Since he is a dentist, I assumed it had something to do with teeth, but the reality is more horrific than even I could imagine.

The militias just take a power drill to the victim. They drill holes in the person until they confess to whatever crime they are seeking or they just die from loss of blood and shock. Why would anyone do this? Well the reasons are many, but one prominent “crime” is cooperating with the Americans. For that act you can be drilled or worse. Lately people are being beheaded for helping American troops. No wonder things are so difficult for our forces over there.

I tell you these stories not for any political reason, just to let you know that there are real people in Iraq who are suffering unimaginable tortures and hardships. Too often we look at Iraqis as some faceless group. We do not see the individuals that are trying to find some semblance of normal life in a country that has been flipped upside down and left in chaos.

Read Mohammed’s blog if you dare. It isn’t easy or fun. What I find amazing about it is that in the midst of this nightmare, he can still find the words to tell the world what is happening. That is a testament to his spirit and humanity. May Allah bless him and his family, and may the long nightmare that is the Iraq war be wiped away by the light of a new day.