[Infowarrior] - U.S. holds AP photographer in Iraq 5 mos

[Richard Forno]

 U.S. holds AP photographer in Iraq 5 mos

By ROBERT TANNER, AP National WriterSun Sep 17, 7:45 PM ET

The U.S. military in Iraq has imprisoned an Associated Press photographer
for five months, accusing him of being a security threat but never filing
charges or permitting a public hearing.

Military officials said Bilal Hussein, an Iraqi citizen, was being held for
"imperative reasons of security" under United Nations resolutions. AP
executives said the news cooperative's review of Hussein's work did not find
anything to indicate inappropriate contact with insurgents, and any evidence
against him should be brought to the Iraqi criminal justice system.

Hussein, 35, is a native of Fallujah who began work for the AP in September
2004. He photographed events in Fallujah and Ramadi until he was detained on
April 12 of this year.

"We want the rule of law to prevail. He either needs to be charged or
released. Indefinite detention is not acceptable," said Tom Curley, AP's
president and chief executive officer. "We've come to the conclusion that
this is unacceptable under Iraqi law, or Geneva Conventions, or any military
procedure."

Hussein is one of an estimated 14,000 people detained by the U.S. military
worldwide ‹ 13,000 of them in Iraq. They are held in limbo where few are
ever charged with a specific crime or given a chance before any court or
tribunal to argue for their freedom.

In Hussein's case, the military has not provided any concrete evidence to
back up the vague allegations they have raised about him, Curley and other
AP executives said.

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