After 2 Years, U.S. Frees AP Photographer

Journalist Bilal Hussein Released From U.S. Military Custody; No Charges Were Ever Filed

(AP)  Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein embraced sobbing relatives and thanked colleagues after being released Wednesday from more than two years in U.S. military custody.

Hussein, 36, was freed at a checkpoint in Baghdad, where he was taken by the military aboard a prisoner bus. He left U.S. custody wearing a traditional Iraqi robe and appeared in good health.

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.

"I want to thank all the people working in AP. ... I have spent two years in prison even though I was innocent. I thank everybody," Hussein said after being freed.

AP President Tom Curley said Hussein "is safely back with AP and his family, and it is a great relief to us."

"Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who supported us during this difficult and challenging period," Curley said. "Bilal will now be spending some quiet time with his family and resting up."

Hussein and the AP denied any improper contacts, saying Hussein was doing the normal work of a photographer in a war zone. He was detained by U.S. Marines on April 12, 2006 in Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad.

Hussein was a member of the AP team that won a Pulitzer Prize for photography in 2005, and his detention drew protests from rights groups and press freedom advocates.

"We are happy to welcome him back into our journalistic community," said Santiago Lyon, AP's director of photography.

The photographer was embraced by tearful family members, including his brother and mother, and spoke to other well-wishers on a mobile phone as he was showered with flowers and sweets. He later was honored with a traditional feast.

"I cannot describe my happiness at seeing him again," said his brother, Yassir Hussein, a 35-year-old university professor in Baghdad. "The family has been going through a hard time over the past two years, but now we thank God that we will have some rest."

In New York, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Joel Simon, said the group was "thrilled" by Hussein's release.

"He now joins a growing list of journalists detained in conflict zones by the U.S. military for prolonged periods and eventually released without any charges or crimes ever substantiated against them," said Simon. "This deplorable practice should be of concern to all journalists. It basically allows the U.S. military to remove journalists from the field, lock them up and never be compelled to say why."

[libsrweak]

DEMAND THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT BE CHARGED, GIVEN A TRIAL, AND OF COURSE IMPEACHED FROM OFFICE OF THIS GREAT LAND.

Posted by nrgmizer at 12:00 PM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse

**********

you must be the only moron left crying over that..the DNC had given up and surrendered (as predicted )
hey you can always do a nude protest in front of the white house..

[libsrweak]

Posted by leftyintexas at 04:06 PM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse

******

it would be an easy republican win...

[leftyintexas]

Ozark_Sun: Well said. Spoken by a true American.

Posted by rushman71 at 03:35 PM : Apr 17, 2008

You mean American NAZI.

[leftyintexas]

he got a better deal than Daniel Pearl..dont you agree...now he comes out a free man and a liberal''''s hero

Posted by libsrweak at 03:57 PM : Apr 17, 2008

They both got a ''rotten deal''. They are both heroes... not just one, as you seem to think. YOU DOOFUS fellowers should have been in their place. That would have made me feel better. Only 278 days left! Enjoy!

[leftyintexas]

nrgmizer and you other sympathizers - I''''ve requested the FBI research you and your e-mails and charge you with aiding and abetting the enemy and sedition. You are a bunch of cry babies that whine no matter what. You whine that we weren''''t protected on 9/11 and now you whine when we detain possible criminals/terrorists. How about you go to Baghdad and try to figure it out. You won''''t because you are cowards.

Posted by Ozark_Sun at 02:49 PM : Apr 17, 2008

Yeah, blah, blah, blah . Hey MORON, wake us when you come up with something intelligent to say. Only 278 days left! Yipeee!!

[libsrweak]

Posted by leftyintexas at 03:56 PM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse


************

he got a better deal than Daniel Pearl..dont you agree...now he comes out a free man and a liberal''s hero

[leftyintexas]

NAZI land all over again.

[rushman71]

Ozark_Sun: Well said. Spoken by a true American.

[Ozark_Sunshine]

nrgmizer and you other sympathizers - I''ve requested the FBI research you and your e-mails and charge you with aiding and abetting the enemy and sedition. You are a bunch of cry babies that whine no matter what. You whine that we weren''t protected on 9/11 and now you whine when we detain possible criminals/terrorists. How about you go to Baghdad and try to figure it out. You won''t because you are cowards.

[stevex47]

"LOCK UP BUSH FOR WAR CRIMES!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS THE TERRORIST!"

Geez, stop yelling. But you are right. This administration should have been brought up on treason charges for the CIA agent Plames outting. Outing an agent means you dont care about US security. Why would they not care? Because their care was an Iraq was at ANY and all cost. Right wing values? Nice. Look at our dollar, home crisis, recession, gas prices, oh yeah....a WAR. Good choices nutjobs.