Iraqis Charge Sex Abuse at British Embassy

Three say KBR contractors routinely harass, grope workers
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted May 8, 2008 9:23 AM CDT
Iraqis Charge Sex Abuse at British Embassy
A man guards the outside entrance of the British Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 7, 2007. Three Iraqis have alleged abuses inside the embassy.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed )

Three staff at the British embassy in Baghdad are sexually harassed, bullied, and abused, say three Iraqi ex-employees. A female cleaner and two male cooks detail a brutal work culture overseen by American contractors, according to testimony taken by the embassy and obtained by the Times of London. The cleaner attested that she lost her job after refusing to sleep with her boss.

Several contractors routinely groped staff, paid or otherwise rewarded employees who slept with them—and fired those who spoke out, say the workers. The contractor, engineering and services company KBR, also provides services to the American embassy. The British foreign office claims responsibility lies with KBR officials, whose investigation found nothing to support the complaints. (More Baghdad stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X