Reuters journalist freed in Iraq after 12 days (from Abu Ghraib)

[Barrett808]

Reuters journalist freed in Iraq after 12 days
By Alastair Macdonald

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi journalist working for Reuters was released from U.S. military custody at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad on Thursday after 12 days in detention.

Ali al-Mashhadani, 37, was arrested by U.S. Marines in his home town of Ramadi on May 20 when he went to a U.S. base to retrieve Reuters telephones taken from him earlier that week.

He spent five months in U.S. custody last year before being released without charge in January.

Though again no specific allegation or charge was leveled against him, U.S. officials said last week he was held as a security threat. Marines interrogated him intensively about his work as a journalist in the restive Sunni province of Anbar.

The Marines did not contact Reuters at any stage and neither his employer, his family or lawyer had any access to Mashhadani.

Senior U.S. commanders in Baghdad were, however, in contact with Reuters and once he was transferred to their direct control two days ago, Mashhadani was released under a fast-track procedure for reviewing the detention of journalists.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060601/ts_nm/iraq_reuters_dc

[tanyev]

1. "a fast-track procedure for reviewing the detention of journalists"

WTF? How about NOT detaining journalists?

[ThomCat]

2. Well, if they didn't detain them

they couldn't threaten them in indefinite brutal detention, now could they?

It's all about using arbitrary power to intimidate and threaten people.

[tanyev]

3. Well, yeah, but to just mention in a matter-of-fact manner that

they have such procedures? One thing this administration never runs short of is gall.

[Eugene]

4. Folks, what is wrong with this picture?

Never mind the fast-track review. Why should the US forces
have a specific policy for detaining journalists in the first place?
Once it is established that they are journalists, they have
a legitimate reason and the right to be there.

[HuffleClaw]

5. PUNISHMENT for...

...revealing the haditha massacre. what a complete disgrace.