A Postcard from Iraq.

An Iraqi family album...

Layla Anwar, An Arab Woman Blues - Reflections in a sealed bottle...

Some of you may recall that I already have 2 relatives who had been kidnapped and are now imprisoned in "Detention centers". Kamel, 60 plus, is still in American "custody". He is sick and we have no news except that he is still alive...at least we hope so. Omar, 19 years old, also detained by the Americans. Seems he has been transferred from American hands in Baghdad and moved to Southern Iraq. When we enquired about him, they said that he is in a military hospital getting treatment in Southern Iraq. That is very strange indeed. Bear in mind that Southern Iraq prisons are run by the sectarian militias from Iran and neither them nor the Americans actually provide any medical treatments in "hospitals". How long will he be there? What is he suffering from? Is it possible to visit him? None provides us with any answers. I personally believe that Omar is dead. I believe that Omar has been killed. Possibly under torture...most probably under torture. A few weeks back, Salam, another relative was kidnapped and badly battered, bashed up. A few days ago, it was Raouf's turn. Now Raouf is very close family (...) Raouf was so badly tortured, he was unrecognizable. You cannot see his eyes anymore. His face, his nose are so swollen , as if about to explode with pain and hurt. His body, his body, the marks of a thousand rods, chains, sticks on it. His legs, his back, his chest, his arms, his stomach... His white shirt was dark brown with blood. Someone took pictures. For the memory, for the record, for the family album. An Iraqi family album...

continua / continued