The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

A few weeks, my platoon and I went on a mission to Abu Ghraib Prison. I was in a bad mood that morning, so I decided not to take my camera. Luckily, my comrade, PFC Christopher Beckett brought his along. All of these photos are his.

After leading some of the prisoners around with leashes, and making them do naked butt pyramids (We weren't allowed to take pictures of that, for obvious reasons), we had time to tour the prison.


This is where the prison population's fine meals are prepared.

The main point of interest in the prison is the "Death House," the place that Saddam used for execution. there was contention in the new Iraqi government over whether or not the building should be torn down because of the horrendous memories associated with it. Hopefully, the building will remain standing so that no one will forget what happened there.

Of course, there's the also problem with the fact that the Death House is haunted.


This is the hallway that leads to the Death House. According to the American who showed us around, the hall was used as an overflow holding place when the prison became too crowded. Up to three thousand prisoners would be kept in the hallway, forced to stand in one place constantly. Oday Hussien would come to the prison and reduce the numbers in the hall by shooting every third or fourth prisoner.

Notice the faint circles that appear in the picture. According to our guide, the Iraqi nationals running the prison are very reluctant to enter this hallway alone. He himself said that he's heard one strange event repeated that he's experienced himself. While walking through the hall in 120 degree desert heat, from out of nowhere, a chilling wind blew through the hall.

The door leading to the Death House.

The Death House.

The gallows inside the Death House. The ropes were hung from the two metal rings in the ceiling. In the center is a podium with two levers that open the trap door.

Looking down on the trap door. For many men, this was their last sight.

My platoon in the gallows room. This picture was obscured by many of the mysterious faint circles. From left to right; SSG Crawford, PFC Santoyo, me, SPC Cummins, PFC Beckett, 1LT Carter, PFC Zotter, SPC Smith.

This is the death row holding room outside the gallows room. Notice, more of the mysterious faint circles.

Writing scrawled on the walls of a holding cell. I can't read it. Supposedly it's a prayer, or something.
Our guide said that everyone who takes pictures in the prison reports the same problem. Faint mysterious circles appear in the photos. Both digital and film pics. And the circles appear only in photos taken in two places. In the Death House, and the hallway leading to said house. Both of these structures have seen much death and horror. I know almost nothing about photography. But it's clear that there's only one scientific explanation for these faint circles. They're ghosts.