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Iraq: Raped Print E-mail
Wednesday, 12 July 2006

A few months ago, Abir Al-Janabi was just another 14-year-old Iraqi girl in a small town called Al-Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad. Both of her parents are from the Al-Janabi tribe, one of the biggest tribes with Sunni and Shia branches.

Omar Al-Janabi, a neighbor and relative, was informed by Abir's mother that the young girl was being harassed by U.S. soldiers stationed in a nearby checkpoint. That is why Abir was sent to spend the night in her neighbor's home. The next day, Omar Al-Janabi was among the first people who found Abir, with her 34-year-old mother Fakhriyah, her 45-year-old father Qasim, and her 7-year-old sister Hadil, murdered in their home. Abir was raped, killed by a bullet in her head, and then burned on March 12, five months before her fifteenth birthday.

Muhammad Al-Janabi, Abir's uncle, reached the house shortly after the attack as well. Iraqi police and army officers informed him and other angry relatives that an "armed terrorist group" was responsible for the horrifying attack. This is exactly what the angry relatives of the 24 Iraqi civilians killed in Haditha four months before this incident had been told as well. In that case, U.S. officials initially claimed that a roadside bomb planted by terrorists had killed the 24 Iraqi civilians and one U.S. soldier in Haditha, but the Iraqi people knew that it was the Americans.

Unlike the case of Haditha, where Iraqi public opinion was furious about the massacre months before it reached to the U.S. mainstream media, the Iraqi press had not even heard of Abir until the U.S. army accidentally found out information about her while investigating another incident. This raises questions about the number of other similar cases that were never investigated and were blamed on non-occupation parties instead.

According to Iraq Body Count, a credible project documenting Iraq's civilian casualties, the occupation armies are directly responsible for killing more than one fourth of civilians in Iraq since the beginning of the war. This makes the assumption that Abir's case is just one of many even more plausible.

The "Hadji Girl" song is yet another indicator that what happened to Abir is most like not an anomalous case. "Hadji Girl" is a videotaped song about killing Iraqis written and performed by U.S. Marine Corporal Joshua Belile while he was at the Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. The song became controversial a few weeks ago when the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) discovered it on the internet and objected to its lyrics.

The lyrics, accompanied by loud laughter and applause, include lines as such as "So I grabbed her little sister and pulled her in front of me. As the bullets began to fly, the blood sprayed from between her eyes, and then I laughed maniacally. Then I hid behind the TV, and I locked and loaded my M-16, and I blew those little fuckers to eternity. And I said Dirka Dirka Mohammed Jihad, Sherpa Sherpa Bak Allah, they should have known they were fucking with a Marine". A two-week investigation held by the U.S. army ended with no punishment for Corporal Belile. Furthermore, according to the spokesperson for the Mike Church Show, Mike Church is planning to record and release "Hadji Girl" and give royalties to Belile. The right-wing presenter will sing and release the song on air this week.

But even if you believe that the case of Abir is a rare exception, it is still a major scandal in Iraq. Issues relating to honor are even more sensitive for the Iraqi public and government than the ongoing daily civilian murders. The first Iraqi governmental reaction came when an Iraqi female member of Parliament asked for an urgent session for which Prime Minister Al-Maliki was called back home to attend. The Iraqi Parliament described the rape as a crime against "the honor of all Iraqis". As a result, Al-Maliki asked for a review of the laws put in place by U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer, giving foreign troops immunity from prosecution in Iraq. This seems to be an Iraqi public demand. Iraqi tribal leaders had a number of meetings across the country last week on the anniversary of "Thawrat Al-Eshrin", the 1920 revolution against the British occupation. The largest meeting was that of the mostly Shia Middle Euphrates Tribes. During this meeting, they threatened to initiate a full-scale revolution against the occupation, similar to what had happened in 1920, unless the U.S. army hands over to them all soldiers accused of raping the "Al-Mahmudiyah Virgin," as she is now known.

The uproar created in the wake of the death of Abir is but the culmination of over three years of pent-up frustration and rage the Iraqi people feel. It will only end with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. What is happening in Iraq is a rape of a nation, not just a rape of a 14-year-old girl, and it has to be stopped as soon as possible.

Raed Jarrar, an Iraqi living in the United States, is the director of the Iraq Project at Global Exchange. Jarrar can be reached at: jarrar.raed@gmail.com




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Readers have left 14 comments.
Victims and Ramadan: Quote

Victims and Ramadan
No wonder they want us to stop behaving like victims. Let Tariq Ramadan explain his "stop acting like victim" nonsense to that little girl. It is absolutely outragious that these people are calling us to shut up about atrocities when our daughters are being raped and slaughtered like animals. Whats more, Mr Ramadan wants Muslim womnen to be allowed in Islam to marry non-Muslim men. Maybe, he thinks that would stop the rapes. How would be feel if his daughter were raped. Well, I suppose, he does not consider Muslims in the Arab world as part of our family. His popular mantra is "We must be disconnected from the East because we are Westerners".
(1) 2006-07-12 14:54:44
Mike: Quote

'Raed Jarrar, an Iraqi living in the United States'...haha that says it all. Oh the irony!
(2) 2006-07-12 16:05:47
emma whatever: Quote

At first I didn't think I would be able to comment on this article. There is so much horror there are no words.
The same thing happened in Vietnam. Soldiers are being sent in to kill people. Thay have been indoctrinated with hatred, the Iraqi's whether man, woman, or child were demonised to them, made a non-person, how else can they look a human in the eye and shoot them. We all know that the war shouldn't have happened in the first place, but, what were they thinking using the same soldiers to 'nation build'. Someone suggested to me they should have sent a UN peace keeping force in, maybe they should. They day they 'took' Iraq the soldiers threw sweets from their tanks, I guess the reality has set in that it's not that easy.
What's the solution from the situation as it stands? Is it as simple as bringing the troops home? Iraq is sprinting towards civil war, with various factions targetting each other as well as the occupying force.
(3) 2006-07-12 20:08:30
GK: Quote

I am at a loss to see how our brother (or sister) makes the connection between the tragic events in Iraq and Brother Tariq. How does a Muslim woman marrying a non-Muslim man equate with the rape and murder of our sisters? One is the choice of the individual. Do we think that little Abir CHOSE to die? Whether we agree with Brother Tariq's opinions or not, we should keep our eyes focused on the tragedy and what we can do to help those in need.
(4) 2006-07-12 23:14:24
aron: Quote

A Sad and Horrible case of reality.

As others have said, thsi is a tip of the Iceberg and no doubt in 50-100 years we wil find out the truth.

If you saw the march in New Orleans by Ex Veterns Of Iraq a few months ago on the TV.

They all said that the American Army treats Iraq's /Arabs as inhuman or animals.

None of the press picked on this.

They told of killings and murderss conducted daily.

Unfortunately like the previous army haerings on unlawful kiilings.

Im afraid that no one wil be found gulity or if they are , they will be sent back to the states.

AMERICA IS MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES OF VIETNAM AND KOREA. YOU COULD ARGUE KILLING RUNS IN ITS TRADITION.

LERTS NOT FORGET THE INDIANS WHO WERE ALL MASSACRED TO CREATE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
(5) 2006-07-13 07:33:09
Weemee: Quote

VICTIMS AND RAMADAN: When did Ramadan advocate that Muslims women should be allowed to marry non-muslim men? Any reference for this?
(6) 2006-07-13 08:55:08
Shaz: Quote

Does this Ramadan guy not realise that unlike the Holy Bible the Quran can not be edited so that we publish a newer version everytime we think something else should be permitted...and who wants to marry any non-muslims if this solider is anything to go by - id rather not- islam teaches men respect for women that is true Islam...obviously something this animal was no taught.
(7) 2006-07-13 20:28:52
Aaron: Quote

only Allah can help us in this extreme state of difficulty.

It is in humane what these people are
doing in Iraq but they will pay.
(8) 2006-07-13 20:33:05
Mike: Quote

It's also inhumane what the muslims are doing in the Sudan, but the silence from MPACUK is deafening.
(9) 2006-07-14 16:12:00
Shaz: Quote

Affreen why dont you bother to actually read what people are saying before you call their comments 'inane'and call them ignorant. And in what respect am i ignorant i simply said that the Quran cannnot be edited to suit the 21st century as some would like...and when i refer to the fact that this animal was not taught respect for women - i was refering to the soilder who raped this girl and killed her and her family and not to Ramadan. So i think you will find it is your own ignorance that has led you to this mistake in misunderstanding what i was saying.

I am very clued up and involved with guantanamo and me local stop the war campaigns!!!
(10) 2006-07-15 20:05:43
aafreen: Quote

referring to the knowledgable and respected scholar as 'Ramadan' is not acceptable either as i said have you ever bothered to read his site or hear him speak?? he is a devout muslims nto some pseudo-progressive gets your facts straight before you accuse him of editing the Quran...and your comments ws unclear and far from clued up!
(11) 2006-07-16 16:23:42
Shaz: Quote

yet again Affreen you have not bothered to read what i have said maybe english is hard for you to understand. I didn't say Ramadan wanted to edit the Quran i simply said that it cant be edited to permit the marriage of a muslim to a non-muslim. Unless Ramadan has become some form of a god i will refer to him by his name Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan...

All this was in response to what another person wrote about Ramadan wanting 'Muslim women to be allowed in Islam to marry non-Muslim men' as you seem to know so much about him perhaps you can enlighten me is this what he infact said and if not why dont you trying attacking the person who worte it instead of me!!!

and please send me details of his website etc... so i can get more clued up...
(12) 2006-07-16 16:34:56
Important read this: Quote

Translated by Muhammad Abu Nasr



In a dispatch posted at 11:55pm Makkah time Saturday night, Mafkarat al-Islam submitted its correspondents’ in-depth report on the rape and murder case in March that the American military have now been compelled to investigate.

Mafkarat al-Islam noted that the number of rapes of Iraqi women committed by US occupation troops is already legion and continues to climb.
Many women have been victimized within Abu Ghurayb and the other prisons; while many others have fallen prey to the rapists in American uniform who prowl the large prison that is occupied Iraq.

But there is one case of rape that has come to the surface in recent days, which stands out for a savagery and brutality that goes beyond all bounds.

On an afternoon in March 2006, a force of 10 to 15 American troops raided the home of Qasim Hamzah Rashid al-Janabi, who was born in 1970 and who worked as a guard at a state-owned potato storehouse. Al-Janabi lived with his wife, Fakhriyah Taha Muhsin, and their four children – ‘Abir (born 1991), Hadil (born 1999), Muhammad (1998), and Ahmad (1996).

The Americans took Qasim, his wife, and their daughter Hadil and put them in one room of their house. The boys Ahmad and Muhammad were at school since the time the Americans invaded the home was about 2pm. The Americans shot Qasim, his wife, and their daughter in that room. They pumped four bullets into Qasim’s head and five bullets in to Fakhriyah’s abdomen and lower abdomen. Hadil was shot in the head and shoulder.

After that, the Americans took ‘Abir into the next room and surrounded her in one corner of the house. There they stripped her, and then the 10 Americans took turns raping her. They then struck her on the head with a sharp instrument – according to the forensic medical report – knocking her unconscious – and smothered her with a cushion until she was dead. Then they set fire to her body.

The neighbor of the martyred family told the correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam:

“At 2pm a force of Americans raided the home of the martyr Qasim, God rest his soul. They surrounded him and I heard the sound of gunfire. Then the gunfire fell silent. An hour later I saw clouds of smoke rising from the room and then the occupation troops came quickly out of the house. They surrounded the area together with Shi‘i ‘Iraqi National Guard’ forces, and they told us that terrorists from al-Qa‘idah had entered the house and killed them all. They wouldn’t let any of us into the house. But I told one of the ‘National Guard’ soldiers that I was their neighbor and that I wanted to see them so that I could tell al-Hajj Abu al-Qasim the news about his son and his son’s family, so one of the soldiers agreed to let me enter.

“So I went into the house and found in the first room the late Qasim and his wife and Hadil. Their bodies were swimming in blood. Their blood had spewed out of their bodies with such force that it had flowed out from under the door of the room. I turned them over but there was no response; their lives were already gone.”

The neighbor continued his account: “Then I went into ‘Abir’s room. Fire was coming out of her. Her head and her chest were on fire. She had been put in a pitiful position; they had lifted her white gown to her neck and torn her bra. Blood was flowing from between her legs even though she had died a quarter of an hour earlier, and in spite of the intensity of the fire in the room. She had died, may God rest her soul. I knew her from the first instant. I knew she had been raped since she had been turned on her face and the lower part of her body was raised while her hands and feet had been tied. By God, I couldn’t control myself and broke into tears over her, but I quickly extinguished the fire burning from her head and chest. The fire had burned up her breasts, the hair on her head, and the flesh on her face. I covered her privates with a piece of cloth, God rest her soul. And at that moment, I thought to myself that if I go out talking and threatening, that they would arrest me, so I took control of myself and resolved to leave the house calmly so that I could be a witness to tell the story of this tragedy.

“After three hours the [American] occupation troops surrounded the house and told the people of the area that the family had been killed by terrorists because they were Shi‘ah. Nobody in town believed that story because Abu ‘Abir was known as one of the best people of the city, one of the noblest, and no Shi‘i, but a Sunni monotheist. Everyone doubted their story and so after the sunset prayers the occupation troops took the four bodies away to the American base. Then the next day they handed them over to the al-Mahmudiyah government hospital and told the hospital administration that terrorists had killed the family. That morning I went with relatives of the deceased to the hospital. We received the bodies and buried them, may God have mercy on them.”

The neighbor went on: “Then we decided that we must not be silent so we asked the mujahideen to respond as quickly as possible. They responded with 30 attacks on the occupation in two days, bringing down more than 40 American soldiers. But our blood was still not cooled, so we decided to go to al-‘Arabiyah satellite TV to tell them the story since it is a station that broadcasts in Iraq. But al-‘Arabiyah paid no attention to us and said we were liars. They told us that their policy was to rely on official announcements issued by the American army, and that they were not able to get into a story over which they had no power. This was told to us by the al-‘Arabiyah correspondent Ahmad as-Salih. So we went to local newspapers and they slammed the doors in our faces because we are Sunnis and the rape victim was a Sunni girl. But the Resistance fighters told us that God does not allow the blood of any Muslim to be lost, and they told us to patiently persevere and we would see such a punishment for the blood of ‘Abir and her family, for the violation of the honor of our sister, a punishment that would make people’s hair stand on end.

“I personally wasn’t surprised that Umm ‘Abir [‘Abir’s mother] came to me on 9 March 2006 and asked that ‘Abir be allowed to spend the night with my daughters. She was afraid because of the way the occupation troops looked at her when she went out to feed the cows. I agreed to that because there was an occupation forces’ command post just 15 meters from Qasim’s house, God rest his soul. But frankly I thought it unlikely that anything would happen to the girl because she was only something like 16 and she was just a little girl. But I agreed and she spent one night at our place and then went back to her home in the morning. We had no idea that the occupation troops would carry out heir crime in broad daylight.”

The neighbor concluded: “The occupation troops came last Friday – that is, one day before the Mafkarat al-Islam correspondent visited the scene of the crime – and asked the people of the area to exhume the body of ‘Abir to conduct tests on it. And they also asked me to provide eyewitness testimony and I will go anywhere to make sure that justice is served.”

-###-

July 5, 2006 Mafkarat al-Islam was the first news agency to disclose the crime committed by US troops on that March day in al-Mahmudiyah. Iraqi Resistance Report for events of Saturday, 1 July 2006. Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr, member, editorial board, the Free Arab V
(13) 2006-07-17 11:44:57
nas: Quote

Abir peace be upon you and your family.
I can't belive what they did you my angel. All these american soldiers should be put in a iraqi prison for life.I pray that these evil war criminals get punished in this world and the aftermath for what they did to you.
(14) 2006-12-09 13:09:54
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