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Infamous Abu Ghraib prison gets a museum makeover

05.09.2008 21:03 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

An Iraqi corrections officer looks over the main buildings of Abu Ghraib prison, on the outskirts of Baghdad, in this 2004 photo. Several U.S. soldiers were convicted of abuse and assault of detainees at the prison, which was closed in 2006. (John Moore/Associated Press)

The Iraqi government says it's turning the notorious Abu Ghraib prison into a museum chronicling the crimes committed under former leader Saddam Hussein.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement Thursday exhibits would include torture chambers and execution materials.

The prison, located 25 kilometres west of Baghdad, was first known as a torture site during Hussein's rule.

It then became infamous again in 2004 after photographs came to light showing American guards abusing, torturing and humiliating detainees.

Some of those pictures featured hooded Iraqi prisoners being forced to commit acts such as simulating anal sex and U.S. soldiers posing next to nude, injured prisoners. In others, attack dogs were used to intimidate inmates.

The photos sparked international condemnation by human rights groups and a military investigation, resulting in several American soldiers being convicted of assault and abuse. The investigation found that at least one prisoner had been killed, and evidence emerged that many of the abusive methods had been authorized by top U.S. government officials.

Abu Ghraib, which housed about 2,000 inmates, of which the prison's U.S. commander estimated 90 per cent were innocent, was closed in 2006.

There's no mention in the announcement whether the abuses by U.S. soldiers will be covered in the museum's exhibitions.

Al-Dabbagh, who gave no date for the launch of the museum, said the reconstruction will be overseen by a committee of officials from Iraq's Interior, Defence and Justice Ministries.

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