Former Abu Ghraib detainees awarded $42M

Former detainees of the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq won Tuesday a $42 million verdict in a civil trial in Virginia against a defense contractor that was accused of assisting the U.S. military in abusing prisoners held at the site in the early 2000s.

The verdict against CACI Premier Technology, which is based in Reston, Va., comes after a previous trial in April resulted in a hung jury. A second trial began in late October at the U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

It also comes after years of legal delays before the first trial was ever heard. The plaintiffs first filed the case in 2008.

The jury on Tuesday awarded the plaintiffs — Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asa’ad Al-Zubae — $3 million each on compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages.

The plaintiffs had described physical torture and abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison, also called the Baghdad Central Confinement Facility, which shut down in 2014.

The worst abuses allegedly occurred between October and December 2003, just months after the U.S. first invaded Iraq as part of the global war on terrorism.

Abu Ghraib was a facility run by the military police as the U.S. looked to track down and interrogate suspects over alleged links to terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.

In 2004, Abu Ghraib was the center of controversy after photos leaked of the alleged abuse, and the U.S. military later determined mistreatment occurred at the site. Eleven U.S. military officers were convicted and court-martialed over their involvement.

In the Virginia civil trial, the plaintiffs sought to tie CACI to the abuse. The defense contractor had employed civilian interrogators at the time, and lawyers argued that they were responsible for softening up the detainees for the military.

Al-Zubae testified over the spring that he suffers from mental and physical scars from his time at the prison, where he says he was deprived of clothing and blankets, attacked by combat dogs and threatened with rape. Prison guards also threatened his family, he said.

Other allegations of abuse include detainees being beaten with brooms, forced to pile on top of each other while naked and threats with 9mm pistols.

CACI had argued that military police acted of their own accord and there was no evidence tying the contractors to the abuse.

Topics

Latest in Politics

Giuliani’s lawyers quit over ‘fundamental disagreement’
Politics - The Hill - 13 minutes ago
Bolton calls for FBI investigations before Gaetz, Gabbard confirmations
Politics - The Hill - 26 minutes ago
Trump to nominate Matt Gaetz for attorney general
Politics - CBS News - 27 minutes ago
Democrats express concern over Gaetz pick
Politics - The Hill - 44 minutes ago
Jamie Lee Curtis deactivates her account on X
Politics - The Hill - 1 hour ago

Former Abu Ghraib detainees awarded $42M

Topics

Related

U.S. Jury Awards $42 Million to Iraqi Men Abused at Abu Ghraib

What happened to the young girl captured in a photograph of Gaza detainees

UFC 308 fight card -- Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway: Five biggest storylines to watch in Abu Dhabi

UFC 308 odds, predictions, time, Abu Dhabi fight card: Topuria vs. Holloway picks from proven MMA expert

Chris Hemsworth criticised over tourism ad promoting Abu Dhabi despite ‘notorious’ human rights violations

McIlroy felt 'unimaginative' with new swing as Fleetwood leads after shooting 62 in Abu Dhabi

Tommy Fleetwood ties course record to grab first-round lead at 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

More from The Hill

Giuliani’s lawyers quit over ‘fundamental disagreement’

Bolton calls for FBI investigations before Gaetz, Gabbard confirmations

Democrats express concern over Gaetz pick

Jamie Lee Curtis deactivates her account on X

Trump gets blowback for untested Pentagon chief pick

Latest in Politics

Giuliani’s lawyers quit over ‘fundamental disagreement’

Bolton calls for FBI investigations before Gaetz, Gabbard confirmations

Trump to nominate Matt Gaetz for attorney general

Democrats express concern over Gaetz pick

Jamie Lee Curtis deactivates her account on X