Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is comparing the treatment of a U.S. soldier at a Marine Corps Brig in Virginia to the abuse of Iraqi detainees in the infamous Abu Ghraib scandal.
"Is this Quantico or Abu Ghraib?" Kucinich asked in a statement issued Friday morning, following reports that WikiLeaks suspect Pfc. Bradley Manning was ordered to strip naked overnight Wednesday at the brig where he is being held as he awaits a possible court martial
"Officials have confirmed the ‘non-punitive’ stripping of an American soldier who has not been found guilty of any crime. This ‘non-punitive’ action would be considered a violation of the Army Field Manual if used in an interrogation overseas. The justification for and purpose of this action certainly raises questions of ‘cruel and unusual punishment,’ and could constitute a potential violation of international law," Kucinich said.
The congressman asked last month for permission to visit Manning. So far, no visit has been arranged.
Meanwhile, an attorney for Manning, David Coombs, said his client had been ordered to strip naked overnight for the second night in a row.
"PFC Manning was forced to strip naked in his cell again last night. As with the previous evening, Quantico Brig guards required him to surrender all of his clothing. PFC Manning then walked back to his bed, and spent the next seven hours in humiliation," Coombs wrote on his blog.
"The decision to require him to be stripped of all clothing was made by the Brig commander, Chief Warrant Officer-2 Denise Barnes," Coombs said. "There can be no conceivable justification for requiring a soldier to surrender all his clothing, remain naked in his cell for seven hours, and then stand at attention the subsequent morning. This treatment is even more degrading considering that PFC Manning is being monitored -- both by direct observation and by video -- at all times. The defense was informed by Brig officials that the decision to strip PFC Manning of all his clothing was made without consulting any of the Brig's mental health providers."
A Marine spokesman at Quantico confirmed to POLITICO the initial report that Manning was required to strip Wednesday night. However, the spokesman said privacy concerns prohibited him from offering more details.
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