US to Hold Reuters Cameraman for Six Months

A Reuters cameraman being held without charge in Baghdad’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison is to be detained for a further six months while the US military reviews his case. By Claire Cozens.

A Reuters cameraman being held without charge in Baghdad’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison is to be detained for a further six months while the US military reviews his case.

How Al-Mashhadani’s Detention Was Extended

Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani has been in custody since he was arrested by US forces on August 8, and a military tribunal held in secret this week ruled that he should be held for another six months.

Another Reuters cameraman, Haider Kadhem, who was wounded in a shooting incident at the weekend, is also being held by the US military.

A Second Cameraman Held After Shooting

The military is refusing to disclose why it is holding Kadhem, who was arrested on Sunday following a shooting incident that killed his colleague, soundman Waleed Khaled.

Reuters has demanded the release of both journalists, and today David Schlesinger, global managing editor for the news organisation, said he was “shocked and appalled” by the decision to continue to detain al-Mashhadani without charge and without allowing him access to legal representation of his choosing.

Reuters Calls for Release or Formal Charges

“I call on the authorities to release him immediately or publicly air the case against him and give him the opportunity to defend himself,” he said.

The news organization said it had been told al-Mashhadani “remains a threat to the people of Iraq” and would continue to be held at Abu Ghraib for 180 days.

The US military said he would not be allowed to see a lawyer, his family or anyone else for the first 60 days of his detention.

Details of the Arrest and Home Search

Al-Mashhadani’s 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 journalist’s home was searched along with others in his home town of Ramadi after shooting in the area.

The Review Board’s Response

“The CRRB Board is an independent and unbiased board and consists of nine members: six representatives of the Iraqi government ... and three senior multinational forces officers,” the US military said in a statement on the case.

Reuters said it was urgently seeking a detailed account of any accusations against al-Mashhadani.