BBC: More on Tal Afar Iraqi soldiers rape accusation

BBC quotes acting Tal Afar mayor Brig Gen. Nijm Abdullah with more information regarding the alleged rape and torture of a mother of 11 by Iraqi soldiers in northern Iraq:

Iraqi soldiers charged with rape

…Gen Abdullah said he had received a complaint from tribal leaders that a group of soldiers had entered the woman’s house “a few days ago” and raped her.

“One of the soldiers did not approve. His name is Mushtaq Taleb from Basra. He wanted to stop his comrades by threatening them with weapons because it is an immoral act, but the rape took place anyway,” Gen Abdullah added.

He said he had referred the troops to the judiciary for prosecution.

The woman is thought to be a 40-year-old married mother of 11 from Iraq’s Turkoman minority.

The defendants are identified as a lieutenant and three enlisted men.

If the BBC report is correct, then Mushtaq Taleb should be commended for trying to stop the rape and torture of this mother.

Copyright © 2007 Henry Edward Hardy