Camp Justice (Iraq)

{{Short description|Joint Iraqi-American military base}} {{Other uses|Camp Justice (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Update|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Camp Justice | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = معسكر العدالة | partof = | location = Kadhimiya, Baghdad, | nearest_town = | country = Iraq | image = Crowds outside Camp Justice Iraq.jpg | alt = Pilgrims outside Camp Justice | caption = Pilgrims march outside Camp Justice in 2004. | image2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = | coordinates = {{Coord|33.382|44.353|type:landmark_region:IQ|display=title}} | gridref = | type = Military base | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = Iraq Baghdad | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Camp Justice in Kadhimiya, Baghdad | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Camp Justice in Kadhimiya, Baghdad | pushpin_label = Camp Justice | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | code = | site_area = | floor_area = | height = | length = | ownership = | operator = United States Army, Iraqi military | controlledby = United States Army, Iraqi military | open_to_public = No | condition = Active | site_other_label = | site_other = | website = | built = 2004 | built_for = | builder = | architect = | used = 2004 – present | materials = | fate = | demolished = | battles = 2006 Execution of Saddam Hussein, 2007 Executions of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Awad Hamed al-Bandar, Taha Yassin Ramadan, and 2010 Hanging of Ali Hassan al-Majid (Chemical Ali) | events = 2006 Execution of Saddam Hussein, 2007 Executions of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and others, 2010 Hanging of Ali Hassan al-Majid | current_commander = | past_commanders = | garrison = United States Army, Iraqi military | occupants = | designations = | nrhp = | footnotes = Formerly known as "Camp Banzai" until mid-September 2004. }} '''Camp Justice''' (also known as Camp Al-Adala; {{langx|ar|معسكر العدالة}}) was a joint Iraqi-U.S. military base<ref name=DefendAmerica20040916> {{cite news |url = http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/sep2004/a091504h.html |title = Soldiers Provide Added Security for Pilgrims: Troops Defend Camp Justice, Iraqis During Shiite Holy Pilgrimage |publisher = United States Department of Defense |author = U.S. Army |author-link = United States Army |date = 16 September 2004 |accessdate = 14 October 2007 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071014223047/http://defendamerica.mil/articles/sep2004/a091504h.html |archivedate = 14 October 2007 }}</ref> in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad, Iraq used during Operation Enduring Freedom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Camp Justice Army Base in Kadhimiya, Iraq |url=https://militarybases.com/overseas/iraq/camp-banzai/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=Military Bases |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Etymology== The location was referred to as the Old Iraqi Defense Intelligence Agency compound, then in 2003 as Camp Hunte after Spc. Simeon Hunte before it became Camp Banzai. It was renamed from "Camp Banzai" in mid-September 2004 as part of an effort to give Army facilities around Baghdad friendlier names.<ref name=GlobalSecurityCampJustice> {{cite news | url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/baghdad-kazimiya.htm | title=Mashhad al-Kazimiya | publisher=Global Security | accessdate=10 October 2007 }}</ref> In 2011, it was the Joint Security Station (JSS) Justice before being handed back over to the Government of Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Dagger' Brigade soldiers reflect on experiences at Joint Security Station Justice on occasion of base’s transfer to Iraqi government |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/77845/dagger-brigade-soldiers-reflect-experiences-joint-security-station-justice-occasion-bases-transfer-iraqi-government |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>

==History== Camp Justice was originally the site of Saddam Hussein's 5th Department and was used for Iraqi intelligence operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-01 |title=Iraq: Secret Jail Uncovered in Baghdad {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/02/01/iraq-secret-jail-uncovered-baghdad |access-date=2026-01-15 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Camp Justice - Military camp in Kadhimiya district, Baghdad, Iraq |url=https://aroundus.com/p/11639598-camp-justice |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=aroundus.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 20 March 2003, the U.S. led the invasions of Iraq and in March Baghdad fell.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sathe |first=Mukund |date=2015-12-30 |title=Camp Justice |url=https://mukundsathe.com/tag/camp-justice/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=This Day in History |language=en}}</ref> In April 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) officials established the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) to prosecute serious offences with proceedings hosted at Camp Justice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iraq - Memorandum on concerns relating to law and order |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mde141572003en.pdf |access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>

The base was the location of the 2006 execution of Saddam Hussein; the 2007 hanging of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Awad Hamed al-Bandar, and Taha Yassin Ramadan; and the 2010 hanging of Saddam's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, a.k.a. ''Chemical Ali.''{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, was executed at approximately 05:50 +03:00 UTC on 30 December 2006. Two weeks later on January 15, 2007, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, former head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, former head of the Iraqi Revolutionary Court, were also executed by hanging at this site.<ref name="dailytelegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/7072155/Saddam-Husseins-henchman-Chemical-Ali-executed.html|title=Saddam Hussein's Henchman Chemical Ali Executed|accessdate=25 January 2010 | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | date=January 25, 2010}}</ref>

Saddam's former deputy and former vice-president, Taha Yassin Ramadan (who was originally sentenced to life in prison on November 5, 2006, but had it changed to a death sentence three months later), was likewise hanged here on March 20, 2007, two months and five days after Barzan's and al-Bandar's execution. Likewise Saddam's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid (Chemical Ali) was hanged on January 25, 2010 (three years after his cousin's execution), after receiving four death sentences.<ref name="dailytelegraph"/>

==Correctional facilities== Women on Iraq's death row are held at the Shaaba Khamsa death row facility at Camp Justice. As of 2014 the adult women's death row had 36 women as well as children even though the facility was only intended to hold 25 women.<ref>"[https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/02/06/no-one-safe/abuse-women-iraqs-criminal-justice-system “No One is Safe” The Abuse of Women in Iraq’s Criminal Justice System]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151223113322/https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/02/06/no-one-safe/abuse-women-iraqs-criminal-justice-system Archive]). Human Rights Watch. February 6, 2014. Retrieved on December 25, 2015.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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