A letter from Netta Voutilainen of Amnisty International to Sec. of State Powell expressing concern for Mohammed Jassem 'Abd al-'Issawi, detained in Abu Ghraib since 12/17/03. Ms. Voutilainen askes "to be informed why he has been detained; and I urge the authorities to release him immediately if he is being held solely for his conscientiously held beliefs and has not used or advocated violence. I also seek assurances that he is being treated humanely, and obligingly ask the authorities to grant him access to his family, lawyers of his own choosing, the ICRC and any medical care he may need."
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UNCLASSIFIED
6.•
L.I 57).61
Netta Voutilainen
Ivlannerhehnintie 63 A 12
RELEASED IN FULL
00250 Helsinki
FINLAND
The Honorable Cohn Powell
Secretary of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington DC 20520
USA
June the 9th, 2004
Dear Secretary of State,
I am approaching You on solely humanitarian grounds as a member of Amnesty International, which, as You are surely aware, is opposed to all violations of human rights irrespective of the ideology of the country in which they are committed. I would like to express my serious concern that Mohammad Jassem 'AM al-Issawi has been detained incommunicado in Abu Ghraib prison since 17 December 2003.
--I.tx respectfully ask to-be informed why be has been detained; and I urge--the — authorities to release him immediately if he is being held solely for his conscientiously held beliefs and has not used or advocated violence. I also seek assurances that he is being treated humanely, and obligingly ask the authorities to grant him access to his family, lawyers of his own choosing, the ICRC and any medical care he may need.
I would also like to sincerely convey my fear that detainees in Abu Ghraib prison have been tortured and ill-treated_ I request for independent investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment and urge that such investigations include not only those who carry out the abuses, but also those higher up the chain of command. I ask that the results of these investigations to be made public.
Respectfully and sincerely,
(A9sm(14aszcbs81.
Netta Voutilainen
DOS-001426
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: WILLIAM J GEHRON -,UN 3 0 2004
UNCLASSIFIED
DATE/CASE ID: 08 DEC 2004 200303827
4 . UNCLASSIFIED
2
This missive has been sent to:
President George W. Bush The White House, Office of the President 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington DC 20500 USA
The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense Office of the Secretary The Pentagon Washington DC 20301 USA
The Honorable Colin Powell Secretary of State 2201 C Street NW • Washington DC 20520 USA
Ambassador L. Paul Bremer B1 Presidential Envoy to Iraq Office of the Coalition Provisional Authority
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Office of the Secretary OfDefente .
• The Pentagon Washington DC 20301-2400 USA
Copies of this missive has been sent to:
Ambassador of the United States of America
H.E. Ms. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter Itainen Puistotie 14 A 00140 Helsinki FINLAND
DOS-001427
UNCLASSIFIED