US military says detained Afghan journalist is an enemy combatant

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

US military says detained Afghan journalist is an enemy combatant

The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 27, 2008

KABUL, Afghanistan: A journalist with Canadian television station CTV who has been held for four months without charge has been designated an unlawful enemy combatant, the U.S. military said Wednesday.

An "enemy combatant review board" determined Jawed Ahmad, an Afghan who worked for the network, was dangerous to foreign troops and the Afghan government, Maj. Chris Belcher, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, told The Associated Press.

Ahmad is being held at the U.S. military compound in Bagram, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kabul.

"His case went before an enemy combatant review board. He was afforded an opportunity to provide a statement to the board, and the board determined there was credible information to detain him as an unlawful enemy combatant," Belcher said. He did not say when the review took place or if Ahmad was represented by counsel.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/27/asia/AS-GEN-Afghan-Journalist-Detained.php

[YankmeCrankme]

1. What, are you saying that the US has political prisoners?

But, I'm always reading here that places like Cuba and Iran only imprison journalists. How can this be?

[Supersedeas]

2. the journalism and the trial will not be televised

[Speciesamused]

3. What you do not know wont hurt you.

They imprison Journalist's all
over the world. Another control mechanism.
For your safety of course. Sit back and relax.
they have everything under control. Theirs.

[Magleetis]

4. No Al-Qaeda label?

I thought all the bad guys were Al-Qaeda. At least we know why he was arrested.

Mr. Ahmad was in no way targeted because of his work as a journalist.

Because he is a journalist.

[Javaman]

5. Of course he is...after all we all know that the pen is mightier than the sword...nt

[LynnTheDem]

6. And America sinks to another low..

taking political prisoners.

Canadian journalists..."enemy combatant".

Please please please, Americans who aren't yet...WAKE UP.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Pentagon should disclose evidence, charges against Afghan journalist

Jawed Ahmad, also known as Jojo Yazemi is shown in an undated photo provided by Canadian television station CTV. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says Monday, Feb. 18, 2008 that Ahmad, an Afghan journalist with CTV has been held without charge by the U.S. military in Afghanistan since October, and the military should file charges or set him free.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press/CTV)

Pentagon should disclose evidence, charges against Afghan journalist

New York, February 26, 2008—U.S. authorities should disclose evidence and specify charges against Afghan journalist Jawed Ahmad, who has been held by the military since late October, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In a February 22 letter to CPJ, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Ahmad had been designated an “unlawful enemy combatant” but did not disclose the allegations or evidence against the journalist.

Ahmad, a locally hired journalist for Canadian television network CTV in Afghanistan’s southern provincial capital of Kandahar, was arrested on October 26 at the air base in that city that is used by International Security Assistance Force troops. He was transferred some time after that to the U.S.-run detention facility at Bagram Air Base in the north of the country. Today marks Ahmad’s fourth month in custody. He has not been charged with any criminal offense.

“Although the Pentagon has made a very serious assertion, it has yet to disclose any supporting evidence. And despite holding Jawed Ahmad for four months, authorities have yet to charge him with a crime,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “We urge military officials to either charge Jawed Ahmad with a recognizable criminal offense or, if they have no intention of doing so, to release him immediately.”

Ahmad, also known as Jojo Yazemi, is believed to be 22. U.S. military officials had previously confirmed his detention but declined to give details. Ahmad’s brother disputed the military’s characterization in an interview with CPJ.

“All the journalists in Kandahar know him and know he is a journalist. He didn’t do anything wrong,” Jawed’s brother, Siddique, told CPJ today through a translator. He said the military did not notify the family that Ahmad had been designated an enemy combatant. Siddique last had contact with his brother though a video link supplied by the International Committee of the Red Cross on January 29.

More:
http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/asia/afghan26feb08na.html