Troy based civil and human rights attorney Shereef Akeel is representing more than 100 people in a lawsuit against two companies for inhumane crimes committed against former detainees of the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The violence against prisoners came to light in 2004, and included human rights violations, sexual, physical and psychological abuse, reports of rape among other unimaginable acts. Photos show several prisoners stripped nude and forced to commit lewd acts. The crimes at Abu Ghraib prison were carried out by the military personnel of the United States Army and other U.S. government agencies.

Many of Akeel’s clients are still traumatized from their experiences there. A significant number of Abu Ghraib prisoners were innocent Iraqis brought there without ever committing crimes.  Akeel says the prisoners ranged from doctors, lawyers, imams, teachers and students. Photos show U.S. soldiers placing their thumbs up and smiling while torturing naked prisoners. Former United States Army reservist Lynndie Rana England said she was advised to give expressions of excitement in the photos by higher ranking officers. “They feel so much shame, and it really compromised their dignity. They are not the same people. People were tortured and no one cared,” Akeel said.