Analysis Of The Dehumanization Process In Abu Ghraib

Dehumanization can be described as the process of neglecting the humanness of an individual or group, and associating a certain individual or group with being less than human, or less deserving of the rights and privileges associated with being human (James, 2015, 31). Dehumanization occurs very frequently, and can be tied to numerous issues such as statelessness, among other issues. However, this analysis will solely focus on the dehumanization process that occurs during torture, and how the dehumanization process is intrinsically linked to human rights. Specifically, this analysis will discuss how dehumanization manifests through torture, and how the process of dehumanization strips every human rights that an individual possesses.

Dehumanization

Now that dehumanization is understood, it is now time to discuss how the dehumanization process in Abu Ghraib came to fruition, and how a nation could inflict this much harm on individual citizens. As discussed by Sanders, during the “War on Terror” that was fledged by the United states after 9/11, Muslim extremists were dehumanised to the extent that gross injustices such as Abu Ghraib could be committed. In times of crisis, such as 9/11, the enemy is often demonized and dehumanized in order to create one common “enemy” to fight. In the case of 9/11 and the war on terror, the enemy was Muslim extremists. The dehumanization of Muslim extremists succeeded to the point that laws and legislation were being passed that ultimately allowed and justified the treatment and violations that were being committed against Muslims, in the name of “national security” (Sanders, 2011, p. 606). The dehumanization process occurred through demonising Muslims, and pointing out the “vast” differences between society and “Muslims”. The dehumanization process opened the door for mass and widespread human rights violations being committed against “Muslim extremists”, such as Abu Ghraib. As dehumanization occurs once an individual or group is pushed to the periphery enough, where they are thought to be less than human, or less deserving of respect. Therefore, dehumanization can have dangerous and even deadly effects on the individuals and groups that are push to the periphery (Sanders, 2011, p.