US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4429

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004429 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PINR, IZ 
SUBJECT: KADHIMYAH WOMEN'S PRISON: CONDITIONS ADEQUATE, BUT 
 LACKS STRUCTURE 
 
 
Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) 
AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 19, Poloffs visited Kadhimiyah 
Women's Facility located in Baghdad.  According to Director 
Faisi Mehda, this prison is the only women's facility in 
Iraq. During the visit, Poloffs discovered a fairly well 
appointed building that seemed to provide a clean and safe 
atmosphere for its inmates (although not up to US 
standards). However, weaknesses of this facility included 
lax internal discipline and control measures, the haphazard 
intermingling of inmates, and the lack of inmate activity. 
Inmate statements indicated a basic lack of understanding 
of legal status, as well as allegations of police abuse 
prior to arriving to the prison. End Summary. 
 
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OVERALL, FACILITY IS ADEQUATE 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (C) With a capacity of over 200 inmates, Kadhimiyah's 
Women's Prison "comfortably" holds 162. Inmates are boarded 
in large rooms holding more than 20 beds. Though somewhat 
crowded, these rooms allow for comfortable movement and 
activity, and appeared to be clean and moderately well 
appointed. Prison Director Faisi Mehda told Poloffs on 
October 19 that each inmate is allocated bedding materials, 
as well as personal hygiene products to meet their needs. 
All the prisoners that Poloffs met with were well groomed 
and clean. 
 
3. (SBU) Corrections officers inside the prison are all 
female, and medical and counseling services are also 
available to inmates.  The Medical Office staff includes 4 
nurses, 1 doctor, 1 dentist, and a lab technician.  All 
prisoners are evaluated by the medical staff upon intake. 
Nearby Kadhimiyah hospital allocates a special section in 
its facility to deal with more serious medical ailments. 
The prison facility also provides inmates two family 
visiting days and the opportunity to meet regularly with 
one of 6 social workers. 
 
 
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INMATES CO-MINGLED, LAX INTERNAL SECURITY 
------------------------------------------ 
 
4. (SBU) The facility houses both convicted felons, as well 
as pre-trial detainees, and both adults and juveniles. 
Petty criminals are co-located with more serious offenders, 
including death row inmates. Although the facility 
separates adults and juveniles at night, all inmates appear 
to have the ability to move freely throughout the prison 
facility and intermingle. 
 
5. (SBU) In many instances during the tour, Poloffs noticed 
unlocked gates that separate different sections of the 
facility. Poloffs also noted that many inmates who were 
seen in one section of the prison would suddenly appear in 
other "sectioned-off" areas. At one point in the tour, 
Poloffs were led towards a holding cell to talk with 
inmates.  Upon seeing the approaching visitors, the inmates 
of that cell scurried to their room, hurriedly closed the 
gate, arranged the lock, and waited patiently on their beds 
until the prison Director formally "opened" up the room. 
 
6. (SBU) Regulations regarding inmate clothing do not 
appear to be uniformly applied.  Although required to wear 
blue, many of the prisoners are allowed to keep (and in 
some cases actually wear) their street wear, which 
theoretically could be used to easily slip out of the 
facility.  Despite these security weaknesses, the prison 
has reportedly not experienced any "prison-breaks." 
 
7. (SBU) Poloffs also met with the 22 juvenile inmates who 
are being housed in this facility because there is no 
girls' juvenile detention hall. The youngest is a 12-year 
old, the eldest 17.  Many of the girls indicated that they 
did not know why they were being detained.  One girl said 
that she was accused of terrorist activity.  Another girl 
mentioned almost nonchalantly that she had been gang-raped 
by three men, but could not comment on why she was brought 
in. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
LACK OF STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
8. (SBU) The Director, who has only been on the job for one 
month, was hard-pressed to describe a concrete and 
structured schedule for the women.  She said the women sew, 
make crafts, and in some cases work on reading skills. 
Approximately 30 percent of the girls indicated that they 
do not know how to read, but staff said juveniles do not 
receive any schooling beyond the very basic literacy 
program.    The Director suggested as possible improvements 
a garden for the children and a kitchen where the inmates 
could cook. (NOTE: The prison has no kitchen facilities so 
food is catered.  END NOTE.)  She also expressed hope that 
a self-sustaining manufacturing or small business venture 
could be established in the future. 
 
 
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TELLING COMMENTS: INMATES TELL THEIR STORY 
------------------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) Although shy at first to reach out to Poloffs, the 
floodgates 'burst' once Poloffs began to pose questions to 
the inmates.  The majority proclaimed their innocence and 
expressed concern about their status.  Multiple inmates 
declared they were uncertain as to the reason that they 
were charged. One woman said she had been acquitted of all 
criminal charges, but could not leave the facility because 
there was no family to pay for her transportation back. 
Others said they had been there for several months (in some 
cases over a year) without a formal hearing or charge. 
Amidst the cacophony of inmate complaints, there seemed to 
be a general theme: an imprecise understanding of where 
they fell in the legal process and what the next step for 
them was. 
 
10. (SBU) Another theme was that of police abuse prior to 
arriving at the facility.  The Prison Director initially 
touched on this theme, which was seconded by some inmates. 
She noted that a good number of inmates had arrived at the 
facility with bruises and other evidence of physical abuse. 
The Director said there had been at least one alleged case 
of rape.  In all cases of alleged abuse, the Director noted 
that the women's facility took photos and contacted the 
Ministry of Justice.  Several inmates corroborated this, 
saying torture was used to force a confession. 
 
 
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COMMENT 
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11. (C) Overall, the inmates at the Kadhimiyah women's 
facility seem to be treated well.  It was telling that they 
had no qualms about complaining, even in the Director's 
presence.  The facility is clean, and the inmates are 
provided with both medical care and social work services. 
Although daily activities are limited, their morale seemed 
to be reasonably high during the visit. The lack of 
adequate security measures marks one of the major 
differences of this prison from its counterparts in the US, 
as well as the co-mingling of different categories of 
prisoners.  Despite the lack of good internal security, the 
facility does not report any instances of serious inmate 
violations nor breakouts, and appears to function well. 
 
Satterfield