Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Appeals court hears Abu Ghraib torture case
http://hamptonroads.com/2014/03/appeals-court-hears-abu-ghraib-torture-caseAppeals court hears Abu Ghraib torture case
By Larry O'Dell
The Associated Press
© March 19, 2014
RICHMOND
Four former Iraqi detainees who say they were tortured at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison should be allowed to pursue their claims against the U.S. military contractor in charge of interrogating them, an attorney told a federal appeals court Tuesday.
Baher Azmy urged a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate his clients' lawsuit against CACI Premier Technology Inc. The company's lawyer, J. William Koegel Jr., argued that a district court judge correctly dismissed the lawsuit in June. The appeals court typically takes several weeks, or even months, to rule.
The plaintiffs say CACI employees conspired to have soldiers torture them to make them more compliant during interrogation. The former detainees say they were subjected to electrical shocks, sexual violence and forced nudity.
In 2004, photos depicting soldiers abusing Abu Ghraib detainees became public, shocking the national conscience and producing "universal condemnation among U.S. political and military leaders," the plaintiffs said in court papers.