After two and a half years in an Iraqi prison, Mohammed Hussein (a British National) is free

For Immediate Release

After a lengthy campaign for justice, led by Fair Trials International, Mohammed Hussein has been re-united with his wife and four year old son after spending two and a half years in an Iraqi prison. During his time in captivity Mohammed suffered severe physical and emotional abuse by the Iraqi authorities.

Jago Russell, Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said:

“As Britain began the withdrawal of its troops we feared that UK citizen Mohammed Hussein would be left behind in an Iraqi jail. We are delighted that our campaign for justice has been successful, that Mohammed has been reunited with his family and that they can now begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.”

Mohammed, together with his family, travelled from the UK to Iraq in 2007 out of fear for the welfare of his chronically ill mother and sisters. They were caught up in the battle of Najaf, during which his mother and one of his sisters were killed. Although he played no part in the fighting, Mohammed was arrested by the US army and handed over to the Iraqi authorities. Following a show trial, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for being present in a place where terrorist activities were carried out. In April 2009 an appeal court in Baghdad ruled that Mohammed should be released immediately. The court declared that he should have been included in a Presidential Amnesty issued in February 2008 designed to free those who had played no part in terrorist or other criminal activities.

Mohammed Hussein said:

“I was tortured by the authorities in Najaf after the loss of my mother and sister. They tried their best to make me look like a terrorist and, under torture, forced me to sign a confession they had written. Although I am delighted to be reunited with my family, I feel disappointed with the lack of support the British authorities have shown me at the start of my ordeal. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the past two and half years.”

Notes to editors

Mohammed Hussein fled Iraq in the early 1990s, escaping the anti-Shia political tensions in that country. He had lived in the UK since 2000, becoming a British citizen and has a British wife and a four-year-old son.

Mohammed’s brother (a policeman) was killed, prompting Mohammed’s return to Iraq for a short visit out of concern for the welfare of other members of his family, particularly his chronically ill mother.Upon arrival in Najaf in 2007, Mohammad became alarmed about the number of armed men in the village and alerted the authorities through a hotline set up to report terrorist activity. Following a night of heavy gunfire that saw his mother and sister both killed, Mohammad, his wife and son and everyone else in the area were arrested.

In detention Mohammed was tortured by the Iraqi authorities, forced to sign a ‘confession’ after being severely beaten. His hands were tied behind his back and he was hung from the ceiling for several hours. They attempted to pull his fingernails out and beat the soles of his feet with tree branches. They then threw cold water on his feet to exacerbate the pain and beat them again.

Mohammed was subjected to a sham trial process and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. He was tried together with 500 defendants who had been arrested in the area of Najaf. Only 50 were acquitted, those with suspected links to the Governor of Najaf and his party. The only evidence against him was his presence in Najaf where the fighting took place. His defence lawyer, who received death threats for representing him, visited Mohammed only once and was given no opportunity to present a defence.

Since 2007 Fair Trials International, together with the Islamic Human Rights Commission, has been campaigning for justice for Mohammed Hussein, as well as lobbying the Iraqi government directly. The FCO rejected initial calls to exert their influence, on the basis of Mohammed Hussein’s dual nationality (British and Iraqi),provided that “normal Iraqi criminal procedure was followed”. After continued pressure from FTI, the Foreign Office became more involved and petitioned the Iraqi Government.

Mohammed’s fight for justice was also supported by his MP, Lynne Jones MP, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and Baroness Emma Nicholson MEP.