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In a land of death, Iraq’s morgue workers seek answers In a land of death, Iraq’s morgue workers seek answers
(about 21 hours later)
BAGHDAD — The middle-aged man was killed at night, walking to his car in the Iraqi capital. No one seemed to know who did it or why.BAGHDAD — The middle-aged man was killed at night, walking to his car in the Iraqi capital. No one seemed to know who did it or why.
The man’s bloated corpse lay on the metal examining table. His family waited outside. The only solid information about his death was in a vial that Doctor Aysa, a forensic pathologist, was holding in the air. The man’s bloated corpse lay on the metal examining table. His family waited outside. The only solid information about his death was in a vial that Dr. Aysa, a forensic pathologist, was holding in the air.
“Two bullets in the chest and one in the head,” she said.“Two bullets in the chest and one in the head,” she said.
In this country awash in death, most killers are never caught. The brutal Islamic State militants kill with impunity in the cities they control. Elsewhere, Iraqi police are too poorly trained, too overwhelmed, too powerless to solve cases. Sometimes they themselves are the perpetrators.In this country awash in death, most killers are never caught. The brutal Islamic State militants kill with impunity in the cities they control. Elsewhere, Iraqi police are too poorly trained, too overwhelmed, too powerless to solve cases. Sometimes they themselves are the perpetrators.
But the Baghdad morgue is one of the few places where you can get answers.But the Baghdad morgue is one of the few places where you can get answers.
“We see the dark side of society,” said Doctor Iman, a 36-year-old radiologist. “I think we see the truth — not just what we see on television or read in the newspaper.” “We see the dark side of society,” said Dr. Iman, a 36-year-old radiologist. “I think we see the truth — not just what we see on television or read in the newspaper.”
Iraq’s homicide rate soared during the Sunni-Shiite fighting of 2006-2007, then plunged. Now it is rising again. According to the U.N. mission for Iraq, at least 1,265 civilians were killed in August 2014, compared with 716 a year earlier. The jump reflects the rise of the Islamic State group but also other factors. The slashes and burns on recently delivered bodies suggest that old tactics from the sectarian warfare are returning.Iraq’s homicide rate soared during the Sunni-Shiite fighting of 2006-2007, then plunged. Now it is rising again. According to the U.N. mission for Iraq, at least 1,265 civilians were killed in August 2014, compared with 716 a year earlier. The jump reflects the rise of the Islamic State group but also other factors. The slashes and burns on recently delivered bodies suggest that old tactics from the sectarian warfare are returning.
The morgue workers, dressed in their blue smocks and surgical masks, try to bring science to this anarchic world. They know things about the landscape of violence that slip past other people.The morgue workers, dressed in their blue smocks and surgical masks, try to bring science to this anarchic world. They know things about the landscape of violence that slip past other people.
They know how death comes not just from car bombs or militia gunmen but from a crumbling state. A startling number of Iraqis die from electrocution in generator accidents — a sign that 11 years after the U.S. invasion, the government still can’t provide a basic level of electricity to its citizens.They know how death comes not just from car bombs or militia gunmen but from a crumbling state. A startling number of Iraqis die from electrocution in generator accidents — a sign that 11 years after the U.S. invasion, the government still can’t provide a basic level of electricity to its citizens.
They know that suicide has been on the rise this year, especially among young women who drink rat poison or set themselves on fire because they’re so depressed.They know that suicide has been on the rise this year, especially among young women who drink rat poison or set themselves on fire because they’re so depressed.
The doctors, of course, can’t make up for an inept police department or a corrupt state, or do much about the massacres in areas that Islamic State controls. The doctors, of course, can’t make up for an inept police department or a corrupt state, or do much about the massacres in areas that Islamic State controls.
But at least the doctors can reach some conclusions.But at least the doctors can reach some conclusions.
“It’s nice to be able to find the real cause of death,” Aysa said.“It’s nice to be able to find the real cause of death,” Aysa said.
The Baghdad morgue is supposed to be the central processing point for most of the violent civilian deaths in the country. It also performs autopsies and toxicology tests on people who suffered natural or accidental deaths.The Baghdad morgue is supposed to be the central processing point for most of the violent civilian deaths in the country. It also performs autopsies and toxicology tests on people who suffered natural or accidental deaths.
The morgue’s nine refrigerators typically hold between 70 and 80 bodies each, instead of the 16 that they’re designed for, said Zaid Ali al-Yousef, the facility’s director. The Health Ministry is working on an expansion plan.The morgue’s nine refrigerators typically hold between 70 and 80 bodies each, instead of the 16 that they’re designed for, said Zaid Ali al-Yousef, the facility’s director. The Health Ministry is working on an expansion plan.
On a recent day, a dozen bodies lay strewn about the corridor. They had been removed from the refrigerators as morgue workers searched fruitlessly for a specific corpse.On a recent day, a dozen bodies lay strewn about the corridor. They had been removed from the refrigerators as morgue workers searched fruitlessly for a specific corpse.
One man had somehow lost his black plastic cover, and his body, which had been blackened by flames and then decay, lay twisted on a metal gurney. The black plastic cover over one man’s body had somehow been lost, and his body, which had been blackened by flames and then decay, lay twisted on a metal gurney.
“There are always problems finding the cadavers,” Aysa said. “They have been looking for this case for three hours.”“There are always problems finding the cadavers,” Aysa said. “They have been looking for this case for three hours.”
The morgue is part of the Health Ministry’s department of judicial medicine. The results of the autopsies are sent to the police, but there often appears to be little sign of follow-up, Aysa said.The morgue is part of the Health Ministry’s department of judicial medicine. The results of the autopsies are sent to the police, but there often appears to be little sign of follow-up, Aysa said.
Morgue work can be dangerous in an environment where many people may want to hide the facts. The Washington Post agreed to identify many of the employees only by their first names.Morgue work can be dangerous in an environment where many people may want to hide the facts. The Washington Post agreed to identify many of the employees only by their first names.
“Some doctors avoid seeing the relatives. Our names are not on the autopsy reports,” Aysa said.“Some doctors avoid seeing the relatives. Our names are not on the autopsy reports,” Aysa said.
Still, the doctors said they found the work gratifying.Still, the doctors said they found the work gratifying.
They said they regard their work as intellectually challenging, and feel they’re performing a service for their country by delivering some small measure of truth in an environment where it can be hard to come by.They said they regard their work as intellectually challenging, and feel they’re performing a service for their country by delivering some small measure of truth in an environment where it can be hard to come by.
That helps them bear the pools of blood, the stricken expressions on the corpses of torture victims, the stench that follows them home, clinging so stubbornly to their clothes and hair that even passersby in the streets seem to notice.That helps them bear the pools of blood, the stricken expressions on the corpses of torture victims, the stench that follows them home, clinging so stubbornly to their clothes and hair that even passersby in the streets seem to notice.
It’s worth it, said Doctor Lena, a 36-year-old physician, although she can no longer stand to eat red meat. It’s worth it, said Dr. Lena, a 36-year-old physician, although she can no longer stand to eat red meat.
Aysa recalled how her father, a judge, would tell her: “The forensic pathologist is the one who speaks the truth for the dead because the dead can’t speak.”Aysa recalled how her father, a judge, would tell her: “The forensic pathologist is the one who speaks the truth for the dead because the dead can’t speak.”
A normal day brings around 30 bodies to these halls, and each autopsy can last up to two hours. But on a recent morning, the morgue workers were cherishing an unusual moment of calm.A normal day brings around 30 bodies to these halls, and each autopsy can last up to two hours. But on a recent morning, the morgue workers were cherishing an unusual moment of calm.
“Today it’s quiet,” Aysa said. Only 10 bodies had arrived so far.“Today it’s quiet,” Aysa said. Only 10 bodies had arrived so far.
But then, atop a filing cabinet, a small television broadcast the news. Two car bombs had just exploded in the Shiite neighborhood of Bayaa. The bodies would probably get to the morgue that evening, the doctors said.But then, atop a filing cabinet, a small television broadcast the news. Two car bombs had just exploded in the Shiite neighborhood of Bayaa. The bodies would probably get to the morgue that evening, the doctors said.
At midday, the body of a 2-year-old arrived.At midday, the body of a 2-year-old arrived.
The boy had fallen at home, and later died at the hospital, his grandfather said, speaking through a small window at the office as Lena took notes. The boy had fallen at home, and later died at the hospital, his grandfather said, speaking through a small window at the office as Lena took notes.
In the examination room nearby, a technician laid the toddler on a gurney. A bandage covered his head. He was still wearing a diaper.In the examination room nearby, a technician laid the toddler on a gurney. A bandage covered his head. He was still wearing a diaper.
Doctors Lena and Aysa gathered around as a technician turned on an electric saw, and removed the top quarter of the boy’s skull. Dr. Lena and Dr. Aysa gathered around as a technician turned on an electric saw, and removed the top quarter of the boy’s skull.
Suddenly, they noticed a hole and the evidence of an internal hemorrhage. Suddenly, they noticed a hole and evidence of an internal hemorrhage.
“It’s a bullet wound,” Lena exclaimed. “They told me he fell down the stairs.”“It’s a bullet wound,” Lena exclaimed. “They told me he fell down the stairs.”
“They’re lying, and they don’t know we’re going to catch them,” the technician said, with evident satisfaction.“They’re lying, and they don’t know we’re going to catch them,” the technician said, with evident satisfaction.
“This is the work of the forensic pathologists,” Aysa said, as the three chuckled darkly, and began to carefully remove the brain.“This is the work of the forensic pathologists,” Aysa said, as the three chuckled darkly, and began to carefully remove the brain.
But inside, they found no bullet.But inside, they found no bullet.
And cleaning off the skull, they realized then that the hole was perfectly round, and there was no fracture emanating from its edges.And cleaning off the skull, they realized then that the hole was perfectly round, and there was no fracture emanating from its edges.
“It could be medical interference,” Aysa said. Sometimes, a surgeon drills holes into the temples to alleviate swelling caused by a severe concussion, she added.“It could be medical interference,” Aysa said. Sometimes, a surgeon drills holes into the temples to alleviate swelling caused by a severe concussion, she added.
Lena went back to the office.Lena went back to the office.
Did the boy undergo any surgery, she asked the grandfather through the window.Did the boy undergo any surgery, she asked the grandfather through the window.
The child had been taken into the operating room, the man said, but he didn’t know what happened.The child had been taken into the operating room, the man said, but he didn’t know what happened.
The doctors concluded that the hole was a surgical incision. One mystery solved, albeit a simple one.The doctors concluded that the hole was a surgical incision. One mystery solved, albeit a simple one.
On Aysa’s desk lay a new file. The corpse was in the hall.On Aysa’s desk lay a new file. The corpse was in the hall.
The man was 55 and came from the southern city of Nasiriyah. There was little other information. “We talk to the relatives to try to find out the story,” she said. But in this case, “there are no relatives.”The man was 55 and came from the southern city of Nasiriyah. There was little other information. “We talk to the relatives to try to find out the story,” she said. But in this case, “there are no relatives.”
As she thumbed through the file, she realized why. “Ah,” she said. “He was a prisoner.” He died in jail.As she thumbed through the file, she realized why. “Ah,” she said. “He was a prisoner.” He died in jail.
It would be up to the doctors to find out how.It would be up to the doctors to find out how.
Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report. Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.