Justice Served: Iraqis Tortured 20 Years Ago Receive $42 Million from U.S. Jury
A U.S. jury has awarded $42 million to three former detainees who suffered torture at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq two decades ago.
The case, brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights, targeted CACI International, a private military contractor, which allegedly played a role in the abuse during the Iraq War.
The plaintiffs—Salah Hasan Nusaif Al-Ejaili, Asa’ad Hamza Hanfoosh Zuba’e, and Suhail Najim Abdullah Al Shimari—claimed they were tortured by U.S. military police under the direction of CACI employees who were tasked with interrogation.
The abuse at Abu Ghraib, which included physical assault and sexual humiliation, came to light in 2004, shocking the world and prompting the conviction of several military personnel.
However, private contractors like CACI have largely evaded legal accountability.
This trial has been crucial because it challenges the immunity typically granted to the U.S. military in war-related cases, focusing on corporate liability instead.
This ruling could set a precedent for holding military contractors accountable for their involvement in human rights abuses during conflicts like the Iraq War.