CPTnet
May 11, 2004
IRAQ DETAINEE PROFILE: Akram Kashkul Ali al-Dulaimi
[Note: For other detainee profiles and more information on CPT's Campaign to
Ensure Justice for Iraqi Detainees, see http://cpt.org/iraq/iraq.php]
At about 9:30 a.m. on April 9, 2003, Akram Kashkul left his home to buy food
for his wife, four sons, and four daughters. He never returned. CPT gave
his name to the Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPA) Senior Advisor on
Detainee and Prisoner Issues, but Akram was not listed on any of the CPA
detainee rosters. Akram is one of Iraq's disappeared.
The CPA has not released the names of any person detained or killed before
the formal end of combat, declared on May 1, 2003. Countless families wonder
if their loved ones are alive or dead, and try in vain to locate any news of
them.
On the day of Akram's disappearance, relatives told his wife Kisma that a
man had come to her home while she was out, and had said that her husband
was injured. The man told the relatives that Akram had been taken to a
hospital in Saudi Arabia, and was then taken back to the Baghdad
International Airport. (Kisma told the team that there had been fighting at
or near the airport at this time).
Kisma insists that this story is all "lies." She and other family members
have visited morgues and hospitals, and talked with friends and neighbors.
They have not been able to glean any additional information. Although the
family is destitute, Kisma's primary desire is to know if her husband is
alive or dead.
Context
Since summer 2003, CPT Iraq has been collecting and following the cases of
numerous Iraqis who have been detained by US forces. Often these detentions
have involved human rights violations in the form of:
--house raids using excessive force against unarmed civilians;
--theft and destruction of personal property;
--lack of legal representation or clear judicial process for detainees;
--mistreatment, including abuse of detainees during interrogation and in
prison camps;
--withholding of information about detainees' whereabouts and well-being
from the detainees' families and/or Iraqi and international human rights
organizations.
These actions harm countless Iraqi people, and, by fostering frustration,
anger, and desperation, these actions also endanger the lives of U.S.
soldiers who occupy Iraq.
Some of the detainees CPT has included in its letter-writing campaign may
have been involved in armed resistance to the U.S. occupation. However, for
CPT the issue is one of human rights and dignity -- not the guilt or
innocence of a particular detainee. Every detainee, regardless of what he
or she may have done, is entitled as a human being to certain protections
and rights.
Some actions you may take:
* request information on Akram Kashkul Ali al-Dulaimi from your
legislator and share your what you learn with CPT. [Information received by
the Chicago Office (see tagline for contact information) will be forwarded
to the team in Iraq.]
* Ask for the CPA to publicly identify all persons detained before May 1,
2003.
* Ask that a transparent and accountable judicial process be established
immediately for security detainees.
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