[NYTr] AP Challenges US Claims Iraqi Photographer a "Media Terrorist"

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP via Google - Nov 21, 2007
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gHzlkAkNtDz38ADoWhxiU2XQ5CcwD8T29GRO1

AP Challenges Photographer's Detention

By David Crary
The Associated Press

New York  - A series of accusations raised by the U.S. military against
an Associated Press photographer detained for 19 months in Iraq are
false or meaningless, according to an intensive AP investigation of the
case made public Wednesday.

Evidence and testimony collected by the AP shows no support for
allegations that Bilal Hussein took part in insurgent activities or
bomb-making, and few of the images he provided dealt directly with
Iraqi insurgents.

"Despite the fact that Hussein has not been interrogated since May 2006,
allegations have been dropped or modified over time, and new claims
added, all without any explanation," said the 48-page report compiled
by lawyer and former federal prosecutor Paul Gardephe.

The report, along with copious exhibits and other findings, were
provided to U.S. and Iraqi officials last August but have never been
publicly released by the AP.

"The best evidence of how Hussein conducted himself as a journalist
working for AP is the extensive photographic record," Gardephe wrote.
"There is no evidence - in nearly a thousand photographs taken over the
20-month period - that his activities ever strayed from those of a
legitimate journalist."

The U.S. military notified the AP last weekend that it intended to
submit a complaint against Hussein that would bring the case into the
Iraqi justice system as early as Nov. 29. Under Iraqi codes, an
investigative magistrate will decide whether there are grounds to try
Hussein, who was seized in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi on April
12, 2006.

Military officials have alleged that Hussein, 36, had links to terrorist
groups but are refusing to disclose what evidence or accusations would
be presented.

Most of Gardephe's report is based on a two-week visit to Iraq in
March. He inspected hundreds of photographs taken by Hussein,
interviewed him in custody for 40 hours along with a wide range of
co-workers, relatives and friends.