Yesterday, Simon Owens responded to the Isak post that celebrated AP photographer Bilal Hussein's court-ordered release from two years of U.S. military custody in Iraq.
Owens wrote:
"I guess this is our chance to see if the US military force really respects Iraq's sovereignty by complying with the order."
It is indeed. And here we are with a report headlined, 'U.S. Continues Holding AP Photographer.' It seems that the U.S. military wants to take the time to review the court's order for release for man who spent the majority of his incarceration uncharged and without due process. How prudent of them.
According to the AP report:
"In an e-mail response to an AP request for comment, (Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth) Marshall said 'all charges are now reviewed to determine the applicability' of the law on individual detainees in American custody. The amnesty law, passed in February, was strongly encouraged by Washington as a trust-building measure among Iraq's rival groups.
"U.S. authorities have said a U.N. Security Council mandate allows them to retain custody of a detainee they believe is a security risk even if an Iraqi judicial body has ordered that prisoner freed. The U.N. mandate is due to expire this year.
"Under Iraq's amnesty law, a grant of amnesty effectively closes a case and does not assume guilt of the accused."
The AP has done an admirable job of standing by Hussein, of keeping his case in the forefront of public mind. Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch are adding their powerful voices to the call for Hussein's undelayed release.
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