Bilal Hussein Gets 'Amnesty'

Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 12:56:38 pm PST

AP photographer Bilal Hussein has received amnesty from the Iraqi government, under a new law. I was unable to find any details about this “new law,” but apparently it covers Hussein.

BAGHDAD (AP) - An Iraqi judicial committee has dismissed terrorism-related allegations against Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein and ordered him freed after nearly two years in U.S. military custody.

The decision by a four-judge panel says Hussein’s case falls under a new amnesty law and orders Iraqi courts to “cease legal proceedings.” The ruling says that Hussein should be “immediately” released if no other charges are pending.

The ruling is dated Monday but AP’s lawyers were not able to thoroughly review it until Wednesday.

AP President Tom Curley is hailing the decision and demands that officials “finally do the right thing” and free Hussein.

Amnesty, of course, does not necessarily equal innocence. We’ll have to see what the military decides to do next.

UPDATE at 4/9/08 1:07:11 pm:

LawHawk points out a story about the amnesty law in question, at Aswat Aliraq.

UPDATE at 4/23/08 3:59:57 pm:

A reply to Eric Boehler’s dishonest Media Matters hit piece is here.