"Reality TV" detention in Iraq

The Christian Science Monitor printed a unique story about a new Iraqi "reality TV" series which features detenetion and interrogation of insurgents by Iraqi forces. The feared "Wolf Brigade," headed by commander Abdul Waleed, is the star of the prime-time series which is called "The Grip of Justice." First aired three months ago on the US-funded Al Iraqiya channel, the show, while wildly popular, is quite controversial, as it humiliates detainees and also reveals that their interrogations are conducted under the constant threat of force. Detainees have appeared "roughed up" with cuts on their faces, and they sometimes admit to very suspect acts, like drunkenness and sexual deviancy, which calls into question the morality and legality of the interrogations.

Supporters of the show, as well as the US military, say that the show has started to convince Iraqis that they can solve their security problems. Its critics, which include Iraqis, academics and human rights advocates, say it is against international human rights law, and it is fueling sectarian tensions between Shiites and Sunnis.

In one recent opening scene of "Terrorism in the Grip of Justice," viewers see a group of tired, scruffy men sitting on bare ground, squinting in the glare of floodlights and waiting to confess.

The camera then pans to Abul Waleed, the mustachioed, red-bereted commander of the elite Wolf Brigade police squad. Waleed is addressing about 30 terrorism suspects hauled in during Operation Lightning, a massive Iraqi-led sweep (now in its second week) aimed at rooting out car bombers and other insurgents in Baghdad.The most familiar part of the show are the confessions, which frequently link suspects to atrocities reported on the news. There is little doubt among Iraqis that the captives really are terrorists. Iraqi journalist Salam Jihad, who was detained by insurgents for several hours on a desert highway late last year, says he later saw one of his captors turn up on the show.

[...]

In a recent episode, three insurgents sat sullenly, confessing to their role in the kidnappings and murders of Shiite residents around Salman Pak, south of Baghdad. One suspect, named Muhsin, holds up a photo of one alleged victim.

"And how did you kill him?" the interrogator demands. "By shooting," the 22-year-old Muhsin says.

But because some of the suspects bear visible cuts and bruises on their faces, and confessing terrorists often also admit to drunkenness or sexual deviancy on the show, critics question the legitimacy of both the interrogation techniques and the confessions. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights has filed complaints with the Interior Ministry and has asked the judicial council to review the show's legality.

"We think all detainees must go to court before any interview on TV," human rights official Saad Sultan says.