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Iraq
US refuses to intervene in Iraqi death sentence
2007-04-07
A federal appeals court refused to intervene Friday in the case of a US citizen facing a death sentence in Iraq for his role in the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Baghdad.

A three-judge panel said it is unable to step into the case because Muhammad Munaf was convicted by an Iraqi criminal court. Courts in the United States have "no power or authority" to intervene in a case brought by an Iraqi court of nationwide jurisdiction and administered by the government of Iraq, wrote Judge David Sentelle of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Sentelle noted that Munaf is held in Iraq by US military personnel, but they are part of a multinational force authorized by the UN Security Council in coordination with the Iraqi government.
Posted by:Fred

#10  how do the reg courts of the US retain rights over te military courts? if they do what is the point of milktary courts?
Posted by: Kojo Crack8514   2007-04-07 20:05  

#9  Just reading the perp's name zeroed out my sympathy meter on the spot.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-04-07 13:22  

#8  Muhammed Munaf, (wipes tear from face), we hardly knew ye.
Posted by: wxjames   2007-04-07 13:07  

#7  Covertfloridian,
The US courts do retain jurisdiction over the US military.
It's Muhammed Munaf, not the US military, that is charged with an offense in this case.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2007-04-07 11:52  

#6  hmmm, too bad he's not an illegal so the Mexican government could try to get him back since they don't believe in the death penalty.

Just sayin'
Posted by: Jan from work   2007-04-07 11:48  

#5  Why would we want to intervene? He's convicted of kidnapping (journalists, but the good kind), he got the death sentence, and his name is Muhammed.
Posted by: Glenmore   2007-04-07 09:53  

#4  Also, this is a message (though one that will be totally ignored) to other nations: "We don't meddle in what your courts do, so don't try to meddle in ours..."
Posted by: M. Murcek   2007-04-07 08:41  

#3  Kind of a good case in a sick way though, b/c we don't want them US courts exercising jurisdiction over what our military does oversees.
Posted by: covertfloridian   2007-04-07 01:29  

#2  If this is the same case, it was an absolutely unbelievable combo of staged kidnappings leading to an actual abduction leading to all kinds of trouble, a grim version of a 1960s comic movie featuring all the great comic actors of that era, with an unfunny ending. I remember a US official recounting the story to a rapt mixed audience including senior embassy folks and the CO of detainee ops.

Or perhaps it's another case ....
Posted by: Verlaine   2007-04-07 01:20  

#1  "A three-judge panel said it is unable to step into the case because Muhammad Munaf was convicted by an Iraqi criminal court..."
...and he's got a funny name.
Posted by: Skidmark   2007-04-07 00:34  

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