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Following are excerpts from footage of a visit by Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Al-Hashemi to a juvenile prison, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on September 25, 2007.
First young man: They took me from Haifa Street to the 5th Brigade, and beat the hell out of me. They told me to confess to things I hadn't done. I was on my way to the market to buy cucumbers and tomatoes.
Interviewer: What did they tell you to say?
First young man: I don't know... They told me to confess to murder, but I refused. They told me to confess to other things I never did. Confession to murder or not – I've been here for six months. My family...
Interviewer: Where's your family?
First young man: My family lives on Haifa Street...No, not Haifa Street, behind it.
Interviewer: Do they know?
First young man: Yes.
Interviewer: What grade are you in?
First young man: 9th grade...
[...]
Vice-President Al-Hashemi: We know what is going on in Iraq today, and we know the extent of the injustice afflicting the Iraqis, including yourselves. We will not rest. We will follow your cases. We will exert pressure to speed up the review of your cases, and to get you released as soon as possible, Allah willing. You have to be patient, brothers. As long as you're in good health, the food is good, you are sleeping well, and you are in touch with your families... I have tried to look into this issue. I looked into your files more than six months ago. We will not rest, brothers. Okay? This is my responsibility, and I will pursue this with all the departments that arrested you.
[...]
Second young man: I've been here four years.
Al-Hashemi: Where were you arrested?
Second young man: In Al-Kazimiya.
Al-Hashemi: Does your family live there? What did you do?
Second young man: Me? Nothing.
Al-Hashemi: So why did they arrest you?
Second young man: Terrorism. They said I was a terrorist, and arrested me.
Al-Hashemi: So you are a terrorist?
Second young man: No.
Al-Hashemi: Why did they take you then?
Second young man: I'm not a terrorist, sir. I don't know why.
[...]
Third young man: I'm from Diyala, sir.
Al-Hashemi: You're from Diyala? What did you do? They took you from off the street?
Third young man: I'm a shepherd, sir.
Al-Hashemi: A shepherd. Did the Americans arrest you?
Third young man: Yes.
Al-Hashemi: How long have you been here?
Third young man: Ten months.
Al-Hashemi: Ten months? Does your family call you?
Third young man: Yes.
Fourth young man: I was arrested on my wedding day, sir. They said I would be back after half an hour of questioning. Since then, five months have gone by, and they haven't come or anything. No paperwork came.
Al-Hashemi: Where is your family?
Fourth young man: In Al-Yusufiya. They took me into a car and said it would take half an hour.
Al-Hashemi: Were you interrogated?
Fourth young man: There was an interrogation. I had nothing to confess to. They tied my hands behind my back, blindfolded me, and made me sign something, I don't know what...
Al-Hashemi: What is your food like?
Several voices: It's not good.
Al-Hashemi: Not good?
[...]
Al-Hashemi: Is this what you eat?
Several voices: We only got this kind of food yesterday.
Al-Hashemi: Why are you complaining? This is good food. You call this a small amount?
Young man: It is because you are here...
Al-Hashemi: Only yesterday?
Young man: Yes, only yesterday we got this.
Al-Hashemi: So the food is improving? Is it the quantity of the quality of the food that is not good?
Young man: The food isn't good.
Al-Hashemi: Both the quantity and the quality are not good? Amazing! You are the only ones complaining. Nobody else did.
[...]
Al-Hashemi: Where is your family?
Fifth young man: In Al-Dora.
Al-Hashemi: How long have you been here?
Fifth young man: Six months. We have a field in the center of town. I was walking down the street and they took me. They said it was for questioning. I went for questioning, and they had nothing on me in the battalion. They made me sign something, and said I would be released in the brigade. I went to the brigade, and there I was tortured, and... all kinds of things, sir.
[...]
Sixth young man: They took me off the street, sir. I underwent torture, you name it. I was raped.
Al-Hashemi: You were raped? Where?
Sixth young man: In the battalion
Al-Hashemi: What battalion?
Sixth young man: The 1st Battalion of the 4th Brigade
Al-Hashemi: What's your name?
Sixth young man: Haydar Yunis.
Al-Hashemi: Did you file a complaint?
Sixth young man: No. The 4th Brigade.
Al-Hashemi: From Mahmoudiya? Where did this happen? In the battalion?
Sixth young man: I don't know them. They strung me up and peed on me.
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