Falaqa & Shabah (Iraqi tortures)

[Ben Ostrowsky]

> _FALAQA:_  Victims forced to lie face down and are beaten on the soles of
> feet with a cable.

Sounds like bastinado.  Speaking of which:

http://www.steel-door.com/bastinado.htm

"Falaq, Falanga, Falaka, Fallagas: all appear to be variants of the same
word which is used in mid-eastern cultures to refer to a small crop like
weapon which is approximately 18" in length, with a hardened inner shaft,
the outside made of leather either braided or wound around the 'cane'. The
word/s by extension becomes the practice of using this weapon to inflict
punishment to the soles of the feet."

Ben