Release 'tortured' Briton detained in Iraq

Ramze Shihab Ahmed © Private ACTION TYPE EMAIL

Still detained after being cleared of all charges

69-year-old Briton, Ramze Shihab Ahmed, is being held in Iraq for alleged terrorism-related offences. He has been cleared of all charges brought against him. Act now

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.

Update 10 May: At his eighth trial Ramze was cleared of the final charge against him, but immediately told he would remain behind bars pending further investigation into funding terrorism. We do not know how long this investigation will take, or if it will lead to charge and trial.

Politically motivated charges

The Iraqi government has recently ordered the arrest of a number of Arab Sunnis, including officials and conducted trials against ex-army officers. Ramze is an ex general from the Arab Sunni community. As such, we believe that his prosecution and ongoing detention may be politically motivated. Read background

We are calling on the Iraqi authorities to release Ramze, unless the prosecution can demonstrate a legitimate reason to detain him further. He has been in custody long enough for investigations into further charges to have been completed. His allegations of torture must also be investigated.

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.

Enter your contact details below to send an email to the Charge d’Affaires at the Iraqi Embassy.

Dear Charge d' Affaires,

Dear Charge d’Affaires

I am writing to express concern about the continued detention of Ramze Shihab Ahmed, a dual Iraqi-British national. On 10 May 2012, Ramze was acquitted of the eighth and final charge against him under the anti-terrorism law and yet he still remains in prison.

I call on you to release Ramze unless the prosecution can prove there is a legitimate reason to keep him in detention. Enough time has passed in order to have completed any investigation into his alleged offences.

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 immediately set up an investigation into his allegations of torture, make the results public and bring to justice anyone found responsible for the torture.

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.

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Release 'tortured' Briton detained in Iraq

Politically motivated charges

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