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U.S. Military Uses Small Wooden Boxes for Segregation Cells of Iraqi Prisoners

U.S. Military Uses Small Wooden Boxes for Segregation Cells of Iraqi Prisoners

The U.S. military has taken the meaning of segregation back to the most draconian periods in human history. The military’s answer to dealing with violent Iraqi or Al Qaeda loyalist prisoners is to place them in small wooden boxes.

Military officials released three grainy black-and-white pictures that show the 3 foot by 3 foot by 6 foot tall wood and mesh boxes. Once an average Iraqi, who is an average 5 feet 6 inches tall, is placed in the box, there is little room to move around.

Because prisoners are only isolated in the box for no more than 12 hours at a time and they are checked every 15 minutes, military officials contend the boxes are humane.
“Someone in a segregation box is actually observed more than those anywhere else,” said Maj. Neal Fisher, Marine spokesman for Task force Unit 134. “Their care and custody does not change simply because they are in segregation.”

“There are concerns that they could be used in places where detainees are enclosed in extremely hot conditions. It is important to know whether or not detainees are provided with food,” said Jennifer Daskel of Human Rights Watch.

The U.S. houses over 20,000 prisoners at Abu Ghraib, having released another 10,000 Iraqi prisoners since it took over the prison.

Source: CNN

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