Terrorism in the Hands of Justice

[MikeCT]

Actors in the Insurgency Are Reluctant TV Stars
Terror Suspects Grilled, Mocked on Hit Iraqi Show

By Caryle Murphy and Khalid Saffar
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, April 5, 2005; Page A18

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's hottest new television program is a reality show. But the players are not there by choice. And they don't win big bucks, a new spouse or a dream job.

Instead, all the characters on "Terrorism in the Hands of Justice" are captured suspected insurgents. And for more than a month, they have been riveting viewers with tales of how they killed, kidnapped, raped or beheaded other Iraqis, usually for a few hundred dollars per victim. ...

rest of story
(The story is from the 5th so some one else may have posted this already)

[Moses]

What! No ACLU in Iraq?

[350HP930]

Saddam used to have similar TV show trials for his opponents too.

It appears that the same methods for inducing these 'confessions' are still in effect according to this article and others I have read on this subject.

Seated before an Iraqi flag, the dejected and cowed prisoners answer questions from an off-camera inquisitor who mocks their behavior. Some sport bruised faces and black eyes.
. . . .
The bruised faces and the death of at least one prisoner after his appearance on the show have raised questions about the men's treatment in custody. Kadhim denied the prisoners were being abused. "There is absolutely no motive for us to torture them," he said.

In recent reports, the State Department and Human Rights Watch have criticized the use of torture by Iraqi police.

"In light of our recent findings about the prevalence of torture in Iraqi prisons," said Joe Stork, a Washington-based spokesman for Human Rights Watch, "we have serious concerns that these confessions were not also coerced and that the Iraqi authorities failed to provide essential due process protections."

[dd74]

Now that is a case for getting satellite TV.

[kach22i]

Far from appearing to be confident heroes battling U.S. occupation, they come across as gangsters.

"For the first time, we saw those who claim to be jihadists as simple $50 murderers who would do everything in the name of Islam

It's a different world over there playing with a different "rule set". However no matter where you are, you have to ask why and want reasons for the unreasonable.

Order to the orderless.

I think this is a good thing for them. I think if we had it here (our own version) it would be popular too. At one level I don't approve, but I certainly understand. And I understand watching it is a matter of choice. Choice is good.