Specialist James Barker: US soldier murdered Iraqi family after raping 14-year-old girl
This article contains distressing content that could be traumatic for some readers. Discretion is advised.
In November 2006, a US soldier pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl as well as the killing of three members of her family in one of the most brutal attacks recorded in the war-torn nation.
In addition to pleading guilty to the charges, Specialist James Barker also agreed to testify against three other accused soldiers. The guilty plea was reportedly part of a deal to avoid the death penalty. The grisly murders took place on March 12, 2006, in Mahmoudiya, a village 20 miles south of Baghdad. Five soldiers stationed at a checkpoint there allegedly raped the girl, Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, before burning her body to conceal evidence. The group subsequently killed her father, mother, and six-year-old sister.
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According to The Guardian, Private Steven Green, the alleged ringleader, was discharged from the army in May for a "personality disorder" before the heinous crimes came to light. He was later tried as a civilian in a federal court in Kentucky and has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder and sexual assault. The other defendants, however, continued serving in the 101st Airborne Division and were tried by court-martial. Barker told investigators that the group was drinking whiskey and playing cards while plotting the attack on the family. He alleged that he, Pte Green, and another soldier, Sergeant Paul Cortez, took turns in raping the girl -- and Pte Green subsequently shot her and her family.
Never forget the gang-rape of 14-year old Abeer Qassim Hamza on March 12, 2006 in Iraq by 5 U.S Army soldiers who then shot her in the head and set her body on fire. Never forget that they first murdered her mother Fakhriyah Taha, father Qasim Hamza, and younger sister Hadeel. pic.twitter.com/OKlQfeBYNT
— K.Diallo ☭ (@nyeusi_waasi) May 13, 2021
The family massacre was recorded as one of the most inflammatory war crimes that tarnished the reputation of US and British forces. A local insurgent group, the 'Islamic Army', claimed to have built a rocket with a range of 12 miles and named it Abeer after the victim. Ahmad Qassim, the girl's uncle, said he had little faith in the US justice system. "They should hand the criminals to us ... they should be tried in Iraq and executed here," he told the Guardian. "A murder can be solved in a local council by money, but rape can only be solved by killing the perpetrator," local leader Adnan Janabi added.
Today Abeer would have been 29 years old.
— Iraq Now (@irq_now) March 12, 2021
Today we honor Abeer and her family.
Say their Names:
14 year old Abeer Qassim Hamza Al-Janabi
Her mother: Fakhriyah Taha Muhasen
Her father: Father Qassim Hamza Raheem
Her 6 year old sister: Hadeel Qassim Hamza Al-Janabi
/11 the end pic.twitter.com/nuM9oi8Oxf
Local authorities believed the family was killed by insurgents before a member of the unit involved stepped forward. Pte Green's involvement raised questions about the army's recruiting procedures considering he entered the force soon after being arrested for underage drinking and had a record of alcohol and drug abuse.
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The Guardian listed the charges levied as follows:
Specialist James Barker: Charged with rape and murder. Pleaded guilty to avoid death penalty.
Sergeant Paul Cortez: Charged with rape and murder.
Private Jesse Spielman: Charged with rape and murder.
Private Bryan Howard: Charged with rape and murder.
Fmr private Steven Green: Charged in a civilian court with murder and sexual assault. Pleaded not guilty. Discharged from army before charges.