AP Story on Bilal Hussein Fails to Mention Amnesty Deal

Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 8:00:02 am PDT

The Associated Press story about the release of photographer Bilal Hussein, strangely, does not explain that Hussein was released because of a new Iraqi amnesty law—not because the charges were found to be without merit: AP photographer freed by US military after 2 years.

This is how they summarize the situation, without mentioning the salient point.

The U.S. military had accused Hussein of links to insurgents, but did not file specific charges. In December, military authorities brought Hussein’s case into the Iraqi court system for possible trial.

But an Iraqi judicial panel this month dismissed all proceedings against Hussein and ordered his release. A U.S. military statement on Monday said Hussein is no longer considered a threat.

UPDATE at 4/23/08 4:00:30 pm:

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