View source for Forcing POWs to Beat One Another

One method of [[Punishment and torture|punishment]] and psychological torture used on Iranian prisoners of war (POWs) was forcing them to beat one another.

Ba'athist officers would compel prisoners to hit each other, and anyone who refused to do so, was severely punished<ref>Scientific Council of  the Azadegan Encyclopedia. (2020). Azadegan Encyclopedia: Released Iranian Prisoners of Iraq’s War against Iran. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies; [https://www.mfpa.ir Payam-e Azadegan].</ref>.

In the detention camps of Iraq's Ba'athist regime, one way of humiliating and torturing Iranian prisoners was, on occasions when the large number of detainees made it feasible, to line them up in pairs and force them to slap or strike one another in the face. This practice had deep psychological and moral consequences, which I will address below.

== This violent and degrading method had multiple dimensions: ==
1. '''Breaking solidarity:''' It placed prisoners in a position where they were forced to harm their own compatriots, which in itself represented a major psychological victory for the Iraqis, as it sought to drive a wedge between the prisoners.

2. '''Playing for time:''' The delay and prolongation of the act was itself a form of torture; prisoners knew that eventually they would either have to strike or face even harsher punishment.

3. '''Resentment and guilt:''' Even when prisoners understood that they were being coerced, the act instilled feelings of shame and inner guilt, and in some cases even sowed hidden grudges between friends.

4. '''Passive [[resistance]] as a strategy:''' Prisoners acted shrewdly; they maintained the appearance of compliance (to avoid direct punishment) while, in reality, delivering light blows or merely going through the motions, so as neither to be punished nor to seriously hurt their fellow prisoners.

This was a prime example of moral [[resistance]] under the harshest of conditions. In one instance, in the autumn of 1988, at Camp No. 12 in Tikrit, Ward No. 6, Abdolreza, who was barely twenty-one at the time, was a highly energetic young student who had voluntarily left his first year of university to go to the front lines, feeling it was his religious duty to his country in the face of the Ba’athist regime's aggression. 

In [[protest]] against this form of punishment, he stood up and cried out:<blockquote>"We are prisoners, and this is a POW camp. It is your duty to punish us yourselves, not to set us upon one another.<ref>Nekouian, Abdolreza. Memoirs.</ref>"</blockquote>Abdolreza's act gave courage to the others who were being punished there. It was as though his defiance instilled in them a renewed energy; they all broke into a collective chant of "Allahu Akbar" and stood firm against the Iraqis.

As soon as the Iraqis saw the unity among these men, they immediately halted this method of punishment.

Despite his youth, Abdolreza displayed remarkable courage. Through a principled and humane stance, he not only preserved his own dignity but also revived unity and solidarity among the other prisoners.

The prisoners' collective cry of "Allahu Akbar" signified a surge of energy and collective [[resistance]] against the acceptance of humiliation, inspired by Abdolreza's act and giving meaning to an effective protest movement.

When the Iraqis witnessed the prisoners' unity and steadfastness, they backed down and ceased that degrading practice, realizing that continuing it would only provoke further collective [[resistance]].

This was a truly inspiring example of moral and collective [[resistance]] in the most difficult of circumstances.

"It was a great lesson for all of us that the courage of one individual can teach both himself and others how to stand firm against the enemy."

== Analysis and Elaboration ==
1. '''Individual courage can spark a collective flame.''' A single person with a well-timed "no" can break the chain of silence and passivity. Abdolreza showed that moral courage is sometimes more effective than weapons.

2. '''[[Resistance]] is contagious.''' When the prisoners chanted "Allahu Akbar" and stood their ground, they proved that hope and solidarity can spread even in captivity; the enemy fears unity, not solitude.

3. '''The power of role-modeling.''' This act was not only impactful in that moment but also became a behavioral model for other prisoners and future generations, proof that dignity can be preserved even under the greatest pressure.

4. '''A message for us today.''' This is not confined to war and captivity; in any arena where we face injustice, bullying, or humiliation, the courage of one person can be the beginning of change.

== See also ==

* [[Punishment and torture|Punishment and Torture]]
* Psychological [[Punishment and torture|Punishment and Torture]]
* Punishment in Captivity
* Torture in Captivity
* Physical Punishment  and Torture

== Bibliography ==



[[Category:Punishment and Torture]]
<references />

== Author ==
Abdolreza Nekouian