Outrage in Iraq after female detainee allegedly gang-raped by police, prison officials

Three police officers and a duty officer are accused of gang-raping a 26-year-old female detainee at Iraq's Al-Nahda Police Station in Diwaniyah province in late July, according to reports and statements from official ministries. Investigations were launched after officials noticed the surveillance cameras had been disabled. Sundus Al-Mousawi, head of the Women and Children Committee on the Diwaniyah Provincial Council, stated that the incident occurred while the detainee was in custody for a legal matter under Article 248, which addresses deceit, falsification of evidence, and false information during an investigation.

On July 28, Mousawi was informed by a police officer about the alleged assault via a phone call. Upon visiting the station at 4 a.m., she encountered the victim, who described being taken out for two hours before the attack took place. The captain and the other officers admitted to the sexual crime during interrogations. The victim, who hails from a challenging background as an orphan with four children, was described by Mousawi as pale and thin.

Human rights activist Manar Al-Zubaidi emphasized the need for psychological support for the victim, stating that her dignity could not be violated within a facility meant to protect and uphold the law.

The Interior Ministry issued a statement asserting that they would not tolerate any violations of human dignity or legal contraventions. However, human rights advocates and lawyers noted that the justice for such cases is often limited due to social stigma and external pressures that deter victims from speaking out, allowing perpetrators to remain unpunished.

Mousawi has called for the establishment of a female-run prison to address the issue. Notably, Article 398 of the Iraqi Penal Code permits rapists to evade justice if they marry their victims, with the maximum sentence for rape typically being life imprisonment if the victim's marriage is not involved.