Online only, so far

1 June 2004

He's out, and so are his brothers. They're all a little bewildered, but in good health.

Obviously it's impossible to tell just how much our campaign influenced the proceedings. However it seems that Junis and his brothers were not part of any major release...

We hope to hear from colleagues who worked with him in Iraq at the June Branch meeting...
Outside the US Embassy in London, 24 May

Outside the US Embassy in London, 24 May. Placard reads "Free Junis Kuthair - stop the victimisation of Arab media".

Photo © 2004 Guy Smallman

Free Junis Kuthair!

IRAQI JOURNALIST HELD IN ABU GHRAIB PRISON SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003

Junis was a freelance cameraman and contact for London-based Insider Films. His footage has been used by many international news organisations including Channel 4 and ITN. At 3am on 24 September 2003 his home was raided by US troops, who detained him and his brothers. No reason has been given for his detention at the same time the coalition was victimising the Al Jazeera and Al Arabia news networks. Many Arab cameramen were shot dead during this period.

Junis' family had not been allowed to visit him since his arrest. There has been no word from Junis or his captors other than an admission that they are holding him.

Ironically Junis was previously held in Abu Ghraib for six months by the Saddam regime, for writing mildly subversive poetry.

As a journalist Junis was very concerned with accurately reporting the truth. He investigated the infamous fire fight between US forces and Iraqi police in Fallujah. He also took it upon himself to investigate the murder of British journalist Richard Wild.

Junis has done nothing wrong: his only crime is to be a journalist in an illegally occupied country. We demand his immediate release.

DEMONSTRATE MONDAY 24 MAY

11 am- 1pm AMERICAN EMBASSY
(Grosvenor Square W1 - Tube Bond St)
Called by NUJ London Freelance Branch
All welcome. Bring banners and imagination.
* Branch letter to Jack Straw

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