Cross Posted at Media In Trouble
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 U.S. military spokesman said on Wednesday.
Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani was arrested by U.S. forces on August 8 after a search of his home in the city of Ramadi. The U.S. 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-U.S. Combined Review and Release Board held at a secret location in Baghdad on Monday.
He said Mashhadani would be entitled to a review of his case within 180 days and would be held at Abu Ghraib.
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.
I wonder if the New York Times will cry about this guy. Plus I wonder if the freepers who perpetuated Eason Jordan’s demise won’t look back and gaze at their navels. The man said reporters were being targeted.
Well here you go. Now we have a reporter who was jailed simply because of the pictures in his camera. He won’t have a lawyer, see his family or anybody for 60 days. You know it takes a while to run those wires up to the testicles and gather the others for ass piles and such.
How can the US Military report this with a straight face? How did this press gaggle go? Were there follow-up questions? I doubt it.
UPDATE: Continued to read the article apparently its not the first time:
Rudisill said he was aware of five journalists for major news media in detention, including Mashhadani and another freelance cameraman who has worked for Reuters, as well as a cameraman for the U.S. television network CBS.
Journalists for other major international organizations 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 U.S. troops, and cameraman Haider Kadhem, who was wounded in the same incident, has been held ever since by the U.S. military for questioning. Reuters has demanded his immediate release.
Iraqi police said U.S. troops fired into the car carrying the Reuters team.
OK so anybody know who these folks are? Can we get them to talk to us?
