Primary Source Analysis

This is an image of an Iraqi man painting a mural of torture at Abu Ghraib in his home of al-Sadr city.

Citation:

Wall Paint Of Prisoners Abuse In Thawrah Neighborhood Of Baghdad. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.

quest.eb.com/search/115_2667560/1/115_2667560/cite. Accessed 3 Jun 2021.

When Iraqi citizens received word of what occurred in the Abu Ghraib prison, many were devastated. Families, friends, and neighbors had discovered what injustices their loved ones were suffering from. Salaheddin al-Sallat, a 30-year-old painter, created this mural on the main street of al-Sadr city (“Wall Paint…”). While painters may not individually hold much influence, their work has the ability to convey messages, bring people together, and fight for a cause. This painting does just that. This mural was painted in May of 2004, one month after CBS aired the photos (“Wall Paint…”). During this time, the U.S.-led coalition still occupied Iraq, and there was already significant social and political upheaval. Because of this, this painting held even more importance. In light of all the chaos, Al-Sallat's mural brought awareness of the atrocities committed and the deceitful acts of the United States. This was seen in the details of the painting itself. Al-Sallat designed an image where the Statue of Liberty controls a switch connected to wires attached to an Iraqi prisoner, later known as the "Hooded Man." These wires were used as a torture device in the Abu Ghraib prison. The Statue of Liberty has historically been a western symbol of peace, acceptance, equality, and justice; meanwhile, the "Hooded Man" was a symbol of suffering and American brutality after the Abu Ghraib images were released. By depicting Lady Liberty conducting the torture of an Iraqi man, Al-Sallat shows the hypocrisy of the United States. A country that prided itself on upholding rights and freedoms but denied them to others and stripped them of their humanity and dignity. This picture points out the lack of U.S. integrity and emphasizes the pain Iraqi people were experiencing, both inside and outside of the prison. Salaheddin al-Sallat conveys the anger, betrayal, and fear of families through this piece of art.