A video has circulated on social media featuring a woman in her nearly 50s with visible bruises on her face. In the video, she claims that she was beaten by officers at the Al-Za'franiyah and Al-Muthanna police stations and detained for allegedly "insulting the Minister of Interior." In response, the Baghdad Police Command – Rusafa issued a statement on Tuesday, addressing the reports that have caused public outrage and panic.
The statement explained: "A video has circulated on social media and some TV channels showing a woman claiming to have been tortured at one of the police stations under the Baghdad Rusafa Police Command." It continued: "On July 6, 2024, the woman arrived at the police station, where she verbally assaulted the investigating officer. All of this is documented in audio recordings, leading to legal actions taken against her. She was detained by the investigating judge's order but was released on bail on July 10, 2024."
The command added: "Following the broadcast of her interview on a TV channel, an investigative committee was formed by the commander of Baghdad Rusafa Police, comprised of competent officers. Upon investigation, it became clear that her claims were unfounded." They further noted that "she was held at one of the police stations, and during the recording of detainees' statements at the center, it was revealed that she had intentionally harmed herself by hitting herself inside the custody area, resulting in bruises on her body, with the intent to incite public opinion against police officers."
Earlier, a security source in Baghdad confirmed that the woman who appeared in the widely circulated video, claiming to have been assaulted inside a police station for "insulting the Minister of Interior," suffers from "psychological and family issues." The source explained that "the woman has family and psychological problems, and the visible signs of assault on her are a result of these family troubles. She went to file a complaint at one of the police stations, insulted the minister, verbally attacked the officers, and alleged that influential figures were behind her complaints."
