Abed Hamed Mowhoush
Encyclopedia
Abed Hamed Mowhoush was a major general / air vice-marshal
believed to be in command of the Iraqi Air Force
or Iraqi air defence during the regime of Saddam Hussein
immediately prior to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
, until his surrender to United States
forces on 10 November 2003. He died on 26 November 2003 while in U.S. custody at the Al-Qaim
detention facility approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad
, following a 16-day period of detention that included intense beatings and the use of violent and illegal torture
.
U.S. forces initially claimed that Mowhoush had been captured during a raid and that he had died of natural causes (disease), but The Washington Post
later reported that he had given himself up in an effort to secure the release of his sons. Four U.S. servicemen were arrested in October 2004 in connection with the killing.
by U.S. military authorities, who retracted or amended several of their initial claims.
According to the Washington Post:
scandal erupted, the Pentagon
acknowledged that the autopsy
report indicated that the cause of death was "asphyxia
due to smothering and chest compression", and that his body showed "evidence of blunt force trauma
to the chest and legs". The Pentagon added that a homicide
investigation was underway.
In October 2004, four arrests were made in connection with Mowhoush's death: CWO Lewis E. Welshofer Jr.
, and CWO Jeff L. Williams, who were the two soldiers conducting the interrogation, and Sgt. 1st Class William J. Sommer and Spec. Jerry L. Loper from the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who were assigned to the detention facility at the time of the interrogation, and who also faced dereliction of duty
charges.
According to the Washington Post:
The delay in the arrest of the accused was reportedly a result of their commanding officer, Col. David Teeples, being reluctant to pursue charges and preferring a simple reprimand. It was not until the Denver Post ran a series of articles exposing the lenient treatment of the accused that military lawyers commenced prosecution proceedings under military law
. Documents revealed during these proceedings confirmed that Mowhoush was physically abused
and met his death at the hands of military interrogators:
in the death of Mowhoush. A military jury ordered a reprimand and forfeiture of $6,000 in pay, and restricted him to his home, office and church for two months.
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
believed to be in command of the Iraqi Air Force
Iraqi Air Force
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
or Iraqi air defence during the regime of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
immediately prior to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, until his surrender to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces on 10 November 2003. He died on 26 November 2003 while in U.S. custody at the Al-Qaim
Al-Qa'im (town)
Al-Qa'im is an Iraqi town on the Euphrates River in Al-Anbar province, close to the Syrian border....
detention facility approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, following a 16-day period of detention that included intense beatings and the use of violent and illegal torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
.
U.S. forces initially claimed that Mowhoush had been captured during a raid and that he had died of natural causes (disease), but The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
later reported that he had given himself up in an effort to secure the release of his sons. Four U.S. servicemen were arrested in October 2004 in connection with the killing.
Controversy over U.S. claims
The circumstances of Mowhoush's "capture", detention and death appear to have been the subject of a campaign of misinformationMisinformation
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally. It is distinguished from disinformation by motive in that misinformation is simply erroneous, while disinformation, in contrast, is intended to mislead....
by U.S. military authorities, who retracted or amended several of their initial claims.
- It was initially claimed that Mowhoush had been captured during a raid, but it was later admitted that he had voluntarily surrendered.
- Information which was initially released indicated that Mowhoush was cooperating and had revealed the names of key insurgents, but it was later admitted that he had revealed little during the period when he was well-treated and absolutely nothing after the tactics became harsh.
- Despite Mowhoush dying while being tortured, the U.S. military claimed in a news release that his death was brought about by natural causes.
According to the Washington Post:
- "Hours after Mowhoush's death in U.S. custody on 26 November 2003, military officials issued a news release stating that the prisoner had died of natural causes after complaining of feeling sick. Army psychological-operationsPsychological warfarePsychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
officers quickly distributed leaflets designed to convince locals that the general had cooperated and outed key insurgents. The U.S. military initially told reporters that Mowhoush had been captured during a raid. In reality, he had walked into the Forward Operating Base "Tiger" in Qaim on 10 November 2003, hoping to speak with U.S. commanders to secure the release of his sons, who had been arrested in raids 11 days earlier."
Investigation, arrests and trial
Mowhoush died while being interrogated by two soldiers associated with the 66th Military Intelligence Company. At first the official military report stated that "Mowhoush said he didn't feel well and subsequently lost consciousness". However, when the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuseAbu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
Beginning in 2004, human rights violations in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq came to public attention...
scandal erupted, the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
acknowledged that the autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
report indicated that the cause of death was "asphyxia
Asphyxia
Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from being unable to breathe normally. An example of asphyxia is choking. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which primarily affects the tissues and organs...
due to smothering and chest compression", and that his body showed "evidence of blunt force trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
to the chest and legs". The Pentagon added that a homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
investigation was underway.
In October 2004, four arrests were made in connection with Mowhoush's death: CWO Lewis E. Welshofer Jr.
Lewis E. Welshofer Jr.
Lewis E. Welshofer Jr. is an United States Army soldier, convicted of homicide of an Iraqi prisoner of war on November 23, 2003 in al-Qaim. Welshofer was then serving as a Chief Warrant Officer in the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment....
, and CWO Jeff L. Williams, who were the two soldiers conducting the interrogation, and Sgt. 1st Class William J. Sommer and Spec. Jerry L. Loper from the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who were assigned to the detention facility at the time of the interrogation, and who also faced dereliction of duty
Dereliction of duty
Dereliction of duty is a specific offense under United States Code Title 10,892. Article 92 and applies to all branches of the US military. A service member who is derelict has willfully refused to perform his duties or has incapacitated himself in such a way that he cannot perform his duties...
charges.
According to the Washington Post:
- "Senior officers in charge of the facility near the SyriaSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n border believed that such 'claustrophobicClaustrophobiaClaustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
techniques' were approved ways to gain information from detainees, part of what military regulations refer to as a "fear up" tactic, according to military court documents."
The delay in the arrest of the accused was reportedly a result of their commanding officer, Col. David Teeples, being reluctant to pursue charges and preferring a simple reprimand. It was not until the Denver Post ran a series of articles exposing the lenient treatment of the accused that military lawyers commenced prosecution proceedings under military law
Military law
Military justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use...
. Documents revealed during these proceedings confirmed that Mowhoush was physically abused
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
and met his death at the hands of military interrogators:
- "It was inside the sleeping bag that the 56-year-old detainee took his last breath through broken ribs, lying on the floor beneath a U.S. soldier in Interrogation Room 6 in the western Iraqi desert. Two days before, a secret CIA-sponsored group of Iraqi paramilitariesParamilitaryA paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
, working with Army interrogators, had beaten Mowhoush nearly senseless, using fists, a club and a rubber hose, according to classified documents."
Punishment
On January 21, 2006, an American military jury convicted Welshofer of negligent homicideNegligent homicide
Negligent homicide is a criminal charge brought against people who, through criminal negligence, allow others to die.Negligent Homicide is a lesser included offense to first and second degree murder, in the sense that someone guilty of this offense can expect a more lenient sentence, often with...
in the death of Mowhoush. A military jury ordered a reprimand and forfeiture of $6,000 in pay, and restricted him to his home, office and church for two months.
External links
- Human Rights First; Behind the Wire: An Update to Ending Secret Detentions (2005)
- Human Rights First; Command’s Responsibility: Detainee Deaths in U.S. Custody in Iraq and Afghanistan