Wolfgang Bauer (journalist)

Wolfgang Bauer (born 1970) is a free journalist since 1994 after studying Islamic Studies, Geography and History.[1] He was a reporter for the German magazine Focus.[2][3][4] Zeit Dossier, Neon/Nido, Greenpeace Magazin, Geo und National Geographic.[1] In 2011 he was awarded with the European Award for Excellence in Journalism Columbus.[5]

In June 2007 Bauer reported that, when embedded with the American 82nd Airborne Division he witnessed Afghan and American soldiers, in the area of Ghazni, Afghanistan, abusing captured suspects.[2]

Abuse reports

Bauer, and his photographer, Karsten Schoene, said they witnessed one Afghan suspect, tied a truck, and threatened that he would be dragged behind the truck if he continued to decline to answer questions.[2] The Afghan platoon leader who was questioning the suspect then had an American soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division, turn on and gun the truck's engine. Focus published a picture of the Afghan suspect, tied to the truck's bumper. Bauer called this act a mock execution and wrote that this act rose to the level of torture, and was a war crime,

Bauer wrote that, in addition, the suspect's family had been threatened.[2] In a separate incident he reported he had seen an agent of the Afghan intelligence service beat a suspect with a rifle butt, while questioning him.[4]

Major Chris Belcher, speaking on behalf of the Department of Defense, stated that he was unaware of the incident.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.wolfgang-bauer.info/vita_d.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Afghan abuse claim investigated". BBC. June 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  3. ↑ "US military starts inquiry into abuse of Afghan suspect". Gulf Daily News. June 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Journalists allege Afghan prisoner abuse". The Age. June 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  5. ↑ http://www.academicworld.net/artikel-allgemein/article/noch-nie-wurden-so-viele-wichtige-geschichten-nicht-erzaehlt/