months, sometimes more than a year in jail without being formally charged

[bigtree]

Iraq Stakes Hopes on Freed Prisoners


-- estimates of more than 28,000 -- are believed to be held --

By Omar al-Ibadi and Fredrik Dahl
Reuters
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2006/06/08/254.html

BAGHDAD -- Looking exhausted, some of about 100 let free in Baghdad told of how they had spent months -- sometimes more than a year -- in jail without being formally charged.

"I was detained for almost seven months because the U.S. military accused me of launching rockets at their forces," said Sunni Arab tribal leader Ra'ad Talal Hikmat from the western desert province of Anbar, a rebel stronghold.

"We suffered from bad food and illness," he added.

Three buses brought the prisoners to Baghdad's main bus station under U.S. and Iraqi security. As they stepped out, some wept while others smiled and waved at waiting families.

"I spent 16 months in jail without any specific reason. They only questioned me once, accusing me of funding terrorism," said Youssef Khidr, 38, adding he had been arrested by Iraqi forces and then handed over to the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison.

full story: http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2006/06/08/254.html


TWO THREADS COMPLETELY IGNORED --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1371941&mesg_id=1371941
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1362790&mesg_id=1362790