In Historic Trial, Survivors of Abu Ghraib Take on U.S. Military Contractor for Torture

The trial of three survivors of Abu Ghraib against the military contractor they hold responsible for their mistreatment is set to begin in Alexandria District Court on Monday. This marks the first time that survivors of the infamous Iraqi prison have brought their torture claims before a U.S. jury.

The defendant in the civil suit, CACI, provided interrogators who worked at the prison. Despite denying any wrongdoing and insisting that its employees did not mistreat any of the plaintiffs, CACI is being held responsible for creating the conditions that led to their torture. The plaintiffs argue that CACI contractors instructed military police to “soften” detainees for interrogations, contributing to their mistreatment.

Photos published in 2004 showed the horrific mistreatment at Abu Ghraib, with naked prisoners stacked in pyramids, smiling soldiers posing next to a corpse, and detainees threatened with dogs. The plaintiffs describe sexual assaults, beatings, electric shocks, and other forms of mistreatment during their time in prison.

CACI argues that they were not in a position to give orders to soldiers but evidence suggests that contractors played a role in instructing military police to inflict physical abuse. The trial is expected to last two weeks and will feature testimonies from soldiers convicted in military court for directly causing harm.

The U.S government may present unexpected testimonies during the trial with lawyers ready to object if information they consider state secrets is revealed. Judge Brinkema has ruled that the testimonies of the plaintiffs are relevant emphasizing that the reasons they were sent to Abu Ghraib do not justify the mistreatment they suffered. This trial is poised to shed light on the injustices suffered by survivors of Abu Ghraib and hold those responsible accountable for their actions