Iraqi Committee Demands Amnesty for AP Photog

Bilal Hussein, an Associated Press photographer held on terrorism-related charges by the U.S. military for the past two years, should go free, an Iraqi committee ruled today.

Full story after the jump.


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.