'Tortured' Briton faces trial in Iraq

Ramze Shihab Ahmed © Private ACTION TYPE EMAIL

69-year-old Briton, Ramze Shihab Ahmed, is on trial in Iraq for terrorism related offences. So far he has been charged with six crimes and been cleared of all of them.

Ramze was originally arrested in December 2009 and held for a year without charge. For the first four months he was held in a secret prison and alleges he was tortured.

We believe that there is one remaining charge against him and are calling on the Iraqi authorities to guarantee he receives a fair trial.

Thank you to everyone who has taken action for Ramze. In January he asked his wife to thank everyone who has supported him during his ordeal. He told her he is in good health and hopes to be free soon. Please keep up the pressure.

Hoshyar Zebari Hoshyar Zebari

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Muhieddin Hussien Abdullah Al-Taaie Muhieddin Hussien Abdullah Al-Taaie

Charge d’Affaires, Iraqi Embassy

Subject

Dear Charge d’Affaires

I am writing to express my concern about the charges brought under the anti-terrorism law against Ramze Shihab Ahmed, a dual Iraqi-British national. His trial is ongoing and I urge you to ensure that he receives a fair trial, one that conforms fully with recognised international standards for fair trial. This includes not relying on information given by secret informants; allowing the defence to bring witnesses to testify; and observers to attend the trial.

Ramze Shihab Ahmed was arrested on 7 December 2009. He was subjected to enforced disappearance for over three months and held in the secret al-Muthanna prison. While there, he alleges that he was tortured by 10 security officials who suspended him by his ankles, subjected him to electric shocks, partially suffocated him with a plastic bag and threatened to rape members of his family if he did not ‘confess'.

I also urge you to ensure that his allegations of torture are independently investigated and that any statements made under torture by Ramze Shihab Ahmed or others are not used as evidence against him at his trial, and that those responsible for his torture are brought to justice without delay.

I request that you pass on my concerns to the Minister of Justice, Hassan al-Shammari, the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki,  and the Minister of Human Rights, Mohammad Shayaa al-Sudani.

Message

Signoff

First Name *

Surname *

Email *

Are you under 18? *

No
Yes

As you are under 18, please tell us your date of birth so that we can send you information relevant to you. [dd/mm/yy] *

We would like to keep you informed

I would like to receive updates about Amnesty's work.

Please untick if either statement is not correct.

If at any time you prefer not to receive updates from Amnesty, please email sct@amnesty.org.uk specifying which updates you do not wish to receive. We care about your details and unless you have agreed on this form we will never share your phone number or email address. Amnesty will not share the contact details of under 18s. For more information about how Amnesty processes personal data, see our privacy policy at www.amnesty.org.uk/privacy

I would like to receive updates from other Amnesty groups in my area.

Take Action

'Tortured' Briton faces trial in Iraq

We would like to keep you informed