• Press Release

US Citizen Detained in Iraq Must Have Fair Trial, Not Be Sent to Third Country

April 19, 2018

Rather than be sent to a third country where he may face torture, a U.S. citizen held in for seven months in Iraq as a suspected fighter for the Islamic State must be either formally charged and given a fair trial in U.S. courts, or released if no charges are forthcoming, said Amnesty International today following a hearing on the man’s case.

The United States gave notice earlier this week that it intended to send the detainee, who holds both U.S. and Saudi citizenship, to another country, possibly Saudi Arabia.

“No one should be held for so long without charge or due process. If there is enough evidence to charge this individual, then he should be charged and given a fair trial in U.S. federal court, or released. He must not be sent to a third country where he could be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, other serious human rights violations, or the death penalty,” said Daphne Eviatar, director of Security with Human Rights for Amnesty International USA. “Sending prisoners to countries known to torture, arbitrarily detain, or immediately execute detainees without trial would violate international law and is not an option.”