7/26/2004: Iraqi Olympic Committee torture device

In Sadr City, Baghdad, Jamil Mihawi holds a torture apparatus believed to have belonged to the Iraqi Olympic Committee. When he was president of the committee, Saddam Hussein's son Uday allegedly used such devices to punish losing athletes, motivate others or simply indulge his own sadistic pleasure.

Well, at least they weren't bribing folks.

And how does said torture device actually "torture" you?

Just to speculate ... the position it forces you into is uncomfortable in and of itself.

It appears to be made of metal which can be heated, electrified, etc.

Imagine being put into this thing and being made to swim ...

I'm not all that twisted and it took no effort to speculate.

Bah...more American propaganda. I'm sure this is actually a therapeutic accessory of some sort, designed to enhance performance and alleviate sports injuries.

Its an actual medieval device. You put someone in it then suspend it for an long time (note the rod over the top). The forced immobilization starts to smart after a few hours. After a few days, it becomes maddening. He also used iron maidens - actual medieval ones, also. He must have bought some of this stuff at a garage sale in Europe. Unbelievable.

Antiques are lovely, but he could afford to buy new ...

no, he was under a budget crunch - don't you remember? that's why we had to allow him to sell his oil so he could pay for food and medical supplies. the damn american forces probably brought these in country to frame him with in their imperialist quest for oil...

Any device that holds you in a position with your legs spread, might be used for evil.

Oh BTW, I love the blue tiles.

Didn't Sigourney Weaver wear that to beat up the Alien?

One of the torture techniques was Bites from various animals and birds

It's a chastity suit.

I read a while back that when the Iraqi olympic soccer team lost a match against a rival team, Uday had them strapped down and beat the bottoms of their feet with reeds for hours. I can only imagine how painful the next day's practice must have been.

I've been reading "1001 Nights". Apparently that was a common punishment in days of yore. Ouch.

Yeah, apparently feet have some significance in Iraqi society. If you show someone the soles of your feet it's a grave insult, like giving someone the finger in the US. I guess that's why everyone was beating Sadaam's statue with a shoe when it fell.

But after practice Uday took them all out for ice cream.

Which they probably rubbed on their feet.

What a sick dood he is

i remember hearing that the losing team was locked in a room that prevented you from siting up straight, or stretching out for days. and the feet beating would incapacitate you more than just hving sore feet. they break the little bones in your feet, damage the fascia, and ligaments. that can cripple you permanently. ever have planters fasciaitis? it has sidelined athletes for entire seasons. ive had a mild case of it. you wake up every morning with sore feet. it takes about 5 minutes for them to loosen up enough to walk with full strides.

GWB is right about them being evil. it's a shame he is too.

Leah, thanks for posting your picture in your profile.

Thanks Bruce, where's your photo????????? :p

On every post office wall.

It's even on the post office wall in Sydney, you must have done something really really bad, you bad boy.

Or they wanted to give the place a little class.

OK, I'll let you win this time, but only this time.

No wonder I love you.

get a room

Why limit to a room when we can romp through the entire Cellar.

Now that could be fun

"Yeah, apparently feet have some significance in Iraqi society. If you show someone the soles of your feet it's a grave insult, like giving someone the finger in the US"
It's even more insulting than that. Giving the finger can be insulting or just rude or funny or anywhere along that spectrum. The significance of the feet and the seriousness of the insult and humiliation when hitting someone on the feet or with a shoe is huge in the Arab world. I am trying to think of an equivalence in western society and I cant off hand.

I seem to recall that when Blair met up with Gadaffi, Gadaffi blatantly insulted ( in the eyes of the arab world probably to a humiliating degree) Blair by sitting with his leg crossed in such a way as to direct the sole of his foot at him.