Uday's Evil Evidence

By Bobby Ghosh

Tales of the sadistic exploits of Saddam Hussein's son Uday have long circulated. As president of the country's Olympic committee and its soccer body, Uday reportedly ordered the torture of athletes, especially members of the national soccer team who performed below his expectations. Last weekend TIME found tangible evidence of that torture. In the administrative compound of the Olympic committee in central Baghdad, hidden in a pile of leaves, was that must-have of every medieval dungeon, an iron maiden. The sarcophagus-shaped device, with spikes to pierce any unfortunate placed inside, was clearly worn from use. It lay on its side within view of Uday's first-floor offices in the soccer association. It was brought to TIME's attention by looters: they had stripped the site of anything of value but thought the iron maiden worthless. --By Aparisim Ghosh