Juma Salah Qader

Juma Salah Qader was thirteen in 2008 when he was detained in Mosul’s al-Ahdath Prison. He had been involved in a fight, and was sentenced to two years and four months in prison as a result. He spent seven months in al-Ahdath Prison before being transferred to Badush Prison. Juma explains that Badush Prison was much better than al-Ahdath Prison.

He describes how he was first taken to al-Ahdath Prison, how his personal information was recorded, and then how he was led to the hall in which he spent the next seven months. The hall contained bunk beds, a TV screen, air conditioner units, and windows. The prisoners saw their families through these windows at visiting time.

Juma says that there were 70 prisoners held in the hall. They were detained on various charges including theft, murder and terrorism. Juma describes their treatment in detail. He explains, for instance, that the prison administration planted spies among the prisoners so as to discover who was smuggling razor blades and mobile phones into the cell. He says that those who started fights or misbehaved in other ways were punished by falaqa – that is, beating on the soles of their feet.

Solitary confinement was also used as punishment. Juma himself was put in solitary confinement for 15 days as punishment for fighting.

Juma points out the writing left on the walls by prisoners. He explains that he didn’t write anything, as he is illiterate.

He also talks about his fear of being targeted by the other detainees. However, he does says that order was maintained relatively well in the prison. The administration implemented a strict system preventing prisoners from leaving their cells. It also operated a network of spies that reported on the prisoners’ behaviour. Juma says that he didn’t witness any riots or other disorder during his detention, but that he has heard that such things happened in the past. He doesn’t deny that sexual abuse occurred.

According to Juma, the detainees were given one hour a day in the prison yard for fresh air and exercise. They spent the rest of their time in the detention hall chatting or doing manual work. Juma says that the prison officials discriminated between the prisoners. They were lenient with the detainees whose families could pull strings. 

Juma then describes the food in the prison, and he says that basic health care was provided. Some prisoners were taken to hospital when that became necessary. Some suffered from eczema and scabies due to the humidity and poor hygiene.

Juma believes that Iraqi prisons in general and juvenile prisons in particular have improved in the years since. He says the Ahdath Prison – unlike the Badush prison – was never inspected by children’s rights groups during his detention. He believes that inspecting and improving juvenile prisons should be a priority for the people in power. 

Juma says his transfer to the Badush Prison was very hard on him because it took him further away from his family.

After his release, he lost contact with many of those he’d been detained with. He learned later that some had been killed or imprisoned again after turning to violence. He, on the other hand, overcame their prison experience by seeking stability, finding work, and starting a family.

Juma explains that his release date was delayed because of   government holidays. The additional days felt like a lifetime. Finally, he describes the emotions he felt when he returned home to his normal life.