Concern over Iraqi woman’s detention
Amnesty International has expressed concern for the whereabouts of an Iraqi woman allegedly arrested by US and Iraqi military personnel.
In an Urgent Action report issued on 18 February, Amnesty International (AI) USA is demanding the safe treatment of Huda Hafidh Ahmad al-Azawi, a businesswoman, seized at 4am on 17 February.
She was reportedly handcuffed, blindfolded and beaten as were her two daughters, Nura, 15, and Sara, 20.
The AI report says that jewellery, cash, three computers and a mobile phone were confiscated as part of an investigation into accusations that she had been “supporting the resistance”.
Al-Azawi and her sister had been previously arrested in December 2003 along with their brother Iyad on suspicion of supporting armed anti-US groups. Al-Azawi had earlier claimed that Iyad had died while in US custody.
US military authorities have not yet commented on the report.
According to Alistair Hodgett, AI’s media director at the Washington, DC office, every Urgent Action report regarding Iraq is sent to AI offices around the world and the US Department of Defence.
“We have not yet seen any response from the US military,” he told Aljazeera.net.