U.S. jury awards $42 million to 3 former Iraqis detainees for torture they experienced 2 decades ago

A U.S. jury on Tuesday awarded $42 million to three former detainees of Iraqs notorious Abu Ghraib prison, holding a Virginia-based military contractor responsible for contributing to their torture and mistreatment two decades ago.The decision from the eight-person jury came after a different jury earlier this year couldnt agree on whether Reston, Virginia-based CACI should be held liable for the work of its civilian interrogators who worked alongside the U.S. Army at Abu Ghraib in 2003 and 2004.The jury awarded plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asaad Al-Zubae $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages.The three testified that they were subjected to beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity, and other cruel treatment at the prison.They did not allege that CACIs interrogators explicitly inflicted the abuse themselves, but argued CACI was complicit because its interrogators conspired with military police to soften up detainees for questioning with harsh treatment. CACI issued a statement expressing its disappointment in the verdict and its intention to appeal. For nearly two decades, CACI has been wrongly subjected to long-term, negative affiliation with the unfortunate and reckless actions of a group of military police at Abu Ghraib prison from 2003 through 2004, the company said. To be clear: no CACI employee has ever been charged criminally, civilly, or administratively in this matter. CACI employees did not take part in nor were any of our employees responsible for these disturbing events.Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, which filed the lawsuit on the plaintiffs behalf, called the verdict an important measure of Justice and accountability and praised the three plaintiffs for their resilience.The $42 million fully matches the amount sought by the plaintiffs, Azmy said. Its also more than the $31 million that the plaintiffs said CACI was paid to supply interrogators to Abu Ghraib.Today is a big day for me and for justice, said Al-Ejaili, a journalist, in a written statement. Ive waited a long time for this day. This victory isnt only for the three plaintiffs in this case against a corporation. This victory is a shining light for everyone who has been oppressed and a strong warning to any company or contractor practicing different forms of torture and abuse. Al-Ejaili traveled to the U.S. for both trials to testify in person. The other two plaintiffs testified by video from Iraq.The trial and subsequent retrial were the first time a U.S. jury heard claims brought by Abu Ghraib survivors in the 20 years since photos of detainee mistreatment accompanied by smiling U.S. soldiers inflicting the abuse shocked the world during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The post U.S. jury awards $42 million to 3 former Iraqis detainees for torture they experienced 2 decades ago appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.