Abuse in American Prisons

Irum Shiekh, Author; Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies, University of California at Berkeley

Abstract

This article documents and illustrates widespread patterns of abuse in American jails in general and for 9/11 Muslim detainees in particular. The purpose of this article is to illustrate that prison abuse depicted in the photographic images of the Iraqi prison is not an exception, rather it is an everyday experience for many prisoners in the US. While military guards of the Abu-Ghraib prison left clear evidence of their abuse, a lack of photos and documentation of abuses in American prisons may reflect the guards' familiarity with concealing evidence. It does not imply, however, that abuse and torture is rare in American jails.

Recommended Citation

Shiekh, Irum (2004) "Abuse in American Prisons," Muslim World Journal of Human Rights: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/mwjhr/vol1/iss1/art4

 
 
 
 

ISSN: 1554-4419 ©1999-2008 The Berkeley Electronic Press™ All rights reserved.

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