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Images of POWs and the Geneva Convention
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News of American troops being captured, and possibly executed, is of course horrible.

I admit being confused about the idea that showing images of American soldiers on Iraqi television is a violation of the Geneva Convention, specifically Article 13, which states:


Article 13

Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest.

Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited.


Obviously, if they've executed our POWs, they've clearly violated the Geneva Convention. But several of the articles I've read and commentators on TV are specifically noting that showing live soldiers as violating the section about "insults and public curiosity".

Is showing images of soldiers a violation of the Geneva Convention?

Here are some photos from our media.

Example 1
Example 2

In the Example 1, an AP photo, the faces are intentionally blurred. But Example 2, also from the AP, shows a Marine giving water to an Iraqi soldier, whose face is clearly recognizable. Is this a violation of the Geneva Convention?

Here's another:

Example 3

It's from Reuters, and clearly shows a wounded Iraqi soldier's face.

And another from TIME:

Example 4

In these last three, no attempt has been made to mask the identity of the Iraqi POWs. So why the inconsistency?

The ABC commentator I'm listening to just referenced Article 3, section C of the Geneva Convention as well:


(c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;


I've seen some television images of Iraqi soldiers surrendering, carrying white flags, and clearly showing their faces. Again, are these against the Geneva Convention?



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