E/CN.4/1996/35/Add.1 page 69 368. The Special Rapporteur informed the Government of reports he had received of individual cases where the amputations had been carried out. These cases are summarized in the following paragraphs. 369. Ali Ubaid Abed Ali reportedly had his right hand amputated and an "X" mark branded onto his forehead for allegedly stealing a television and a small sum of money from a relative. A television news programme in Iraq reportedly displayed his severed hand and showed him recovering from the operation in a hospital in Diyala province. 370. Hassan Abdullah Hussein, an army deserter arrested in Kirkuk by members of the ruling Ba’ath Party, had the upper part of one ear amputated. It was reported that only a part of the ear was amputated because a number of previous amputees had died from severe infection after having the whole ear removed. 371. Mohammad Hassan and Salam Al-Alibany, both from Almajidia district, were among 15 alleged deserters who reportedly had their ears amputated in Saddam hospital, Amarah city on 24 August 1994. They were said to be subsequently detained in Al Islah prison in Al-Diwaniah city. 372. Ismail Gabbar Al Asadi, from Al-Chibayish township, near Nasiriyah city, reportedly died on 1 September 1994 as a result of having his ear amputated in an Nasiriyah hospital. 373. Hassan Ali Khadhim and Khaz’al Abid Mansour, both from Altar district, Nasiriyah city, reportedly died from head and chest inflammation 10 days after having their ears amputated in August 1994 at the military hospital in Nasiriyah city. 374. Mon’im Hammed Ajmi, from Al-Earay Ward, Amarah city, was reportedly arrested on 8 September 1994. He was accused of army desertion and his ear was amputated at a hospital in Amarah city. 375. Ahmad Karim was one of a number of alleged army deserters arrested and subjected to ear amputation in Basrah city in early October 1994. 376. A series of arrests and amputations was reportedly conducted on 28 October 1994 in Garmat-Ali, Al-Basrah city. Anwar Abdullah, from Al-Jumoria ward, was said to have been one of the persons who were subjected to amputation. 377. Sahid Sayyed Ali was among 11 accused army deserters and residents of the Akaika quarter of Nasiriyah who were reportedly arrested and subjected to ear amputation in early September 1994. 378. Nazar Salman Minawi, from Al-Thawrah township, Baghdad, reportedly had his ears amputated in early August 1994. Mahommad Sigar also had his ear amputated in early August 1994. 379. The Special Rapporteur further indicated that he had received information according to which doctors were often forced to carry out amputation or branding without anaesthesia. Doctors refusing to perform such mutilation