Falls Church, Virginia — A Virginia jury has awarded $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who claimed they were tortured by employees of a U.S. defense contractor at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. This ruling, reached on Tuesday, marked the first time a civilian contractor has been found legally accountable for such abuses, which gained global attention in the early 2000s following the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The plaintiffs, Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa’ad Al-Zubae, alleged in their 2008 lawsuit that they suffered severe abuses at the hands of CACI Premier Technology Inc., a Virginia-based company contracted by the U.S. government to assist with interrogations at the facility. The jury awarded each man $3 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages.
Photographs that surfaced in 2003 showing detainees in dehumanizing poses while U.S. personnel appeared to celebrate the misconduct shone a spotlight on Abu Ghraib, located about 20 miles west of Baghdad. These images triggered worldwide outrage and condemnation, and prompted then-President George W. Bush to issue an apology, describing the incidents as a “symbol of disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our values.”
The legal proceedings emphasized the plaintiffs’ severe treatment at the “hard site” within Abu Ghraib, where some of the most egregious abuses were reported to occur. The Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the plaintiffs along with legal firms Patterson Belknap and Akeel Valentine, shared that the men suffered significant physical and emotional harm from the ordeal. Despite the abuse, none of the men were formally charged with crimes and they were later released.
The jurors relied on the Alien Tort Statute, a law from 1789, which allows non-U.S. citizens to sue in American courts over breaches of international laws, extending the reach of justice beyond U.S. borders.
Responding to the ruling, CACI indicated plans to challenge the outcome, maintaining that its employees did not partake in any abusive actions and attributing the scandal instead to the behavior of certain military police members. The company expressed disappointment with the verdict, emphasizing its perceived misassociation with the broader misconduct by U.S. military personnel.
Salah Al-Ejaili, reacting to the jury’s decision, viewed it as a substantive victory not only for the plaintiffs but for broader efforts against enterprises implicated in humanitarian abuses. “This victory is a shining light for everyone who has been oppressed and a strong warning to any company or contractor practicing different forms of torture and abuse,” Al-Ejaili stated.
Katherine Gallagher of the Center for Constitutional Rights highlighted the broader implications of the case, underscoring the accountability of private military contractors in upholding international law standards, especially regarding human rights abuses.
While the verdict represents a move towards reconciliation and accountability for the alleged victims, CACI’s planned appeal suggests that the legal battles may continue to unfold.
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