Reuters cameraman to be held in Abu Ghraib

Reuters cameraman to be held in Abu Ghraib

[align=left]ABC News | August 31 2005
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A cameraman for Reuters in Iraq has been ordered by a secret tribunal to be held without charge in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison until his case is reviewed within six months, a US military spokesman said today.

Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani was arrested by US forces on August 8 after a search of his home in the city of Ramadi.

The US military has refused Reuters requests to disclose why he is being held. He has not been charged.

His brother, who was detained with him and then released, said they were arrested after Marines looked at the images on the journalist's cameras.

"The CRRB has determined that Mr Mashhadani remains a threat to the people of Iraq and they recommended continued internment," Lieutenant Colonel Guy Rudisill said, referring to a hearing of the Iraqi-US Combined Review and Release Board, (CCRB), held at a secret location in Baghdad on Monday.

He said Mr Mashhadani would be entitled to a review of his case within 180 days and would be held at Abu Ghraib.

Lieutenant Colonel Rudisill said he would not be allowed to see an attorney, his family or anyone else for the first 60 days of his detention, which began in Abu Ghraib last week.

Reuters Global Managing Editor David Schlesinger said: "I am shocked and appalled that such a decision could be taken without his having access to legal counsel of his choosing, his family or his employers.

"I call on the authorities to release him immediately or publicly air the case against him and give him the opportunity to defend himself."

Search

Mr Mashhadani's home was searched along with others in the neighbourhood after shooting in the area.

Such shooting is common in Ramadi, where Sunni Arab insurgents are active. Reuters assigned Mr Mashhadani to film such incidents.

"The CRRB Board is an independent and unbiased board and consists of nine members: six representatives of the Iraqi government ... and three senior Multi-National Forces officers," the US military said in a statement on the case.

Lieutenant Colonel Rudisill said he was aware of five journalists for major news media in detention, including Mr Mashhadani and another freelance cameraman who has worked for Reuters, as well as a cameraman for the US television network CBS.

Journalists for other major international organisations have recently been released without charge after many months in custody.

Reuters is urgently seeking a detailed account of any accusations against Mashhadani.

Reuters soundman Waleed Khaled was killed in Baghdad on Sunday, apparently by US troops, and cameraman Haider Kadhem, who was wounded in the same incident, has been held ever since by the US military for questioning. Reuters has demanded his immediate release.

Iraqi police said US troops fired into the car carrying the Reuters team.

we can house him next to Dick Durbin and Ted Kennedy?

who cares?

I do , I'de care if the Bush admin nailed you for Cannabis(and its illegal unlike pictures of war) amsterdam and put you away too. And, I dont know ya personally ;).

So I definitely care about a reporter who's held without charge (in fact I care about anyone held without charge as they're held under no evidence it's all supposition.....). Now if they say said "he had a grenade threw it at us and were charging him with attempted murder of our troops" id say hell yeah lock em up. As long as there's evidence. Also its not illegal to take pictures in a warzone and that is apparently all he did. But hey maybe he blew up somebody and they just dont want to tell us because well in all honesty I can't even think of a hypothetical for that.

dude,if he is being detained it isnt for nothing.if he is innocent,he will be released,if he is guilty of a crime he should enjoy his stay at club gitmo or ghraib.

asshole.

i know right,they join the jihad and all they get is a free prayer rug and Koran?terrible.......just terrible.

they should drag him outside and put a bullet in his head. O ya after being tortured for hours to find his terrorist buddies.

Worse than a terrorist? A journalist terrorist.

wouldnt be the first time a news agency has given comfort to the terrorists.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by amsterdam

wouldnt be the first time a news agency has given comfort to the terrorists.

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Al-Jazeera!!

italian news,they actually treated and took two wounded terrorists to a hospital hidden under a blanket so they wouldnt kill a journalist of theirs.