October 9, 2006

Three weeks ago the town of Yathrib in the province of Saladdin experienced a barrage of raids in which the people of the Qadisiya neighborhood were utterly humiliated.

167 individuals who were adults, adolescents, elders and even children were detained in the Al-bawasil Elementary school. They were left for 3 days and some for 4 days under no shelter without food or drink and were prohibited from using the bathroom such that some of the elderly could no longer control their bowels.

In addition, their eyes were blind folded and they were beaten until they lost coconsciousness. Other forms of torture were used that included taking these individuals out under the scorching heat of the sun. I have the honor of reporting that I was among these individuals.

In addition, they attempted to exploit a pre-existing dispute between two branches in my tribe when they kidnapped a 15 year old girl. After two days she was discovered in a nearby orchird with her eyes, arms, and legs bound.

The young girl indicated that American soldiers had done this to her and she was instructed to say that people from the other branch of her tribe did this to her. This information was shared with the local US general who said that he would bring whoever did this to justice; however, a subsequent general denied that anything would be done in the matter and he indicated the girl’s story was false.

After all of this the US troops still occupy this neighborhood of Al-Qadisiya and every 2 days they move from one house to another so that no one can harm them. The family of every home that they invade is forced to leave their home. The home is then completely taken over by the American troops as they help themselves to all of the home and its belongings and leave it in a horrible state.