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Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Bilal Hussein informed of allegations more than 600 days after b
Bilal Hussein, an Associated Press (AP) photojournalist was imprisoned in Iraq by the US Military more than 600 days ago without ever being charged. Finally after 20 months of outcries from the AP and others, Mr. Hussein, a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, had his first hearing last week to hear more about the allegations against him; However, formal charges have not been made. According to a report issued last week by the EPUK “The nature and detail of the allegations made during the seven-hour private hearing cannot be reported for legal reasons”. The report further states “The US military prosecutor provided the Iraqi investigating magistrate Dhia al-Kinani with what the US military previously described as “compelling evidence”, copies of the documents were not given to Hussein’s defense lawyer Paul Gardephe. Al-Kinani will now privately review the evidence against Hussein, and decide whether or not Hussein’s case should proceed to trial”.In response, AP Director of Media Relations, Paul Colford, has released the following statement "Bilal Hussein and his lawyers have finally had a chance to learn about the allegations that the U.S. military has withheld from them since they imprisoned Bilal 20 months ago. But, they were not given a copy of the materials that were presented today, and which they need to prepare a defense for Bilal. We would hope that we have an opportunity to review the material. There is still no formal charge against Bilal, and The Associated Press continues to believe that Bilal Hussein was a photojournalist working in a war zone and that claims that he is involved with insurgent activities are false. Bilal continues to be detained by the U.S. military. Because the judge ordered that the proceedings today be kept secret, we are restricted from saying anything further."
Web: www.epuk.org - www.ap.org/bilalhussein
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Posted in: News, Photographers
