Iraq
U.S. military frees Iraqi journalistPosted Feb 23 2010
Family greets Ibrahim Jassam shortly after U.S. military ended the Iraqi freelance photographer’s 17-month detainment, Feb. 10.
AP Photo
Freelance photographer and cameraman Ibrahim Jassam Mohammed reunited with his family Feb. 10 when the U.S. military released him after 17 months of detention without charge.
U.S. military raided Jassam’s home in Mahmoudiya, 20 miles south of Baghdad, in September 2008. He was held at Camp Cropper near the Baghdad airport for being an alleged, “threat to Iraq security and stability” and for “activities with insurgents,” according to Reuters.
The Iraqi Central Criminal Court ruled there was no evidence against Jassam and ordered his immediate release in November 2008. But the U.S. military refused, continuing a trend defying Iraqi courts.
The U.S. military has arrested other Iraqi journalists without charge since 2003. According to Reuters, about 6,000 detainees are due to appear in Iraqi courts, but none of them have been turned over to authorities.
The International Press Institute condemned U.S. actions against Iraqi journalists as “a slap in the face to the U.S. government’s stated belief in press freedom, as well as its long-cherished belief in due process.”