The Murder and Rape of Abeer
Exactly 15 years ago Specialist Paul E. Cortez, James P. Barker, Private First Class Jesse V. Spielman, Private L. Howard, and Private First Class Steven D. Green were manning a checkpoint in Yusfia Iraq as part of the US occupation.
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Exactly 15 years ago Specialist Paul E. Cortez, James P. Barker, Private First Class Jesse V. Spielman, Private L. Howard, and Private First Class Steven D. Green were manning a checkpoint in Yusfia Iraq as part of the US occupation.
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As they were drinking whiskey and playing cards, they were discussing to “rape a girl” and murder Iraqis.
From their checkpoint they could see the house of the 14 year old Abeer Al Janabi. They had been sexually harassing Abeer whenever she passed their checkpoint.
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From their checkpoint they could see the house of the 14 year old Abeer Al Janabi. They had been sexually harassing Abeer whenever she passed their checkpoint.
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That day they broke into the one bedroom house of her family. Her 6 year old sister who pas playing in the garden was dragged inside as well. Inside the house they separated Abeer from her family.
The soldiers pushed her down and took turns raping her.
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The soldiers pushed her down and took turns raping her.
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Cortez testified: “ she kept squirming and trying to keep her legs closed and saying stuff in Arabic,”.
While Abeer was being raped, Private Green Shot and killed her parents and her sister.
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While Abeer was being raped, Private Green Shot and killed her parents and her sister.
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Cortez testified that when Abeer heard the gunshots from the other room she started crying and screaming even more.
After killing her parents and sister, Green came into the room, he raped Abeer and then shot her in the head. He later referred to the killings as “awesome”.
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After killing her parents and sister, Green came into the room, he raped Abeer and then shot her in the head. He later referred to the killings as “awesome”.
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They then poured petrol over Abeer's body and set fire to her lower body.
The soldiers threw the weapon they had used in a canal and gave their bloodstained clothes to Spielman so that he could burn them.
After the murders they left to eat chickenwings to “celebrate”.
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The soldiers threw the weapon they had used in a canal and gave their bloodstained clothes to Spielman so that he could burn them.
After the murders they left to eat chickenwings to “celebrate”.
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“Two of Abeer's brothers survived the massacre as they were in school the moment it happened. They came home to find their house burning with their murdered family inside.
The fire spread from abeer's body to the rest of the house and the smoke alarmed the neighbors.
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The fire spread from abeer's body to the rest of the house and the smoke alarmed the neighbors.
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After they arrived they alarmed a local Iraqi unit who in turn went over to the American checkpoint.
There the American soldiers lied and said the crime was perpetrated by local Sunni insurgents.
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There the American soldiers lied and said the crime was perpetrated by local Sunni insurgents.
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Officers higher up in the command also tried to cover up the crime that was well known in their company. The massacre came to light when Private First Class Justin Watt, who was new in the company mentioned the crimes during a mental health counseling session.
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This massacre is not to be seen as an incident. Military training often involves shooting training were pictures of civilians are used as targets in order to desensitize the troops. First kills are often celebrated and stimulated by company commanders.
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Today Abeer would have been 29 years old.
Today we honor Abeer and her family.
Say their Names:
14 year old Abeer Qassim Hamza Al-Janabi
Her mother: Fakhriyah Taha Muhasen
Her father: Father Qassim Hamza Raheem
Her 6 year old sister: Hadeel Qassim Hamza Al-Janabi
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Today we honor Abeer and her family.
Say their Names:
14 year old Abeer Qassim Hamza Al-Janabi
Her mother: Fakhriyah Taha Muhasen
Her father: Father Qassim Hamza Raheem
Her 6 year old sister: Hadeel Qassim Hamza Al-Janabi
/11 the end
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