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Abu Ghraib Opens With New Name, Look

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The Associated Press

Published: February 22, 2009

BAGHDAD - A gym, barber shop and planters of plastic flowers: Welcome to the gentler face of the infamous Abu Ghraib prison.

The Iraqi government has forged ahead in reopening the prison despite the stigma from years of torture and abuse there during Saddam Hussein's rule and later under American control. The government said Abu Ghraib can hold up to 15,000 inmates.

Officials were eager to highlight a different face of Abu Ghraib, one they emphasized was more focused on reforming prisoners. The facility now has a sewing room, exercise equipment, computers, a library, outdoor recreational areas and a barber shop.

Mohammed al-Zeidi, the assistant director of the Iraqi Rehabilitation Department, insisted the new prison would be operated in accordance with international standards.

"All kinds of human rights violations took place in this prison. So we felt that it was our duty to rehabilitate the prison," he said Saturday.
Iraqi officials defended their decision to reopen the facility - now called the Baghdad Central Prison - saying they need the space as the U.S. military has begun handing over the thousands of detainees in its custody under a new security agreement that took effect Jan. 1.

Information from The New York Times was used in this report

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