15 years for Briton convicted in Iraq (The Guardian)

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15 years for Briton convicted in Iraq

· Trial for passport offences 'lasted less than an hour'
· Family condemn lack of help from UK government

Paul Lewis
Friday April 21, 2006
The Guardian


The family of the first Briton to be convicted in a court under Iraqi jurisdiction since the fall of Saddam last night described the country's judicial system as "farcical". Six days ago, 27-year-old Mobeen Muneef - known as Bobby in his local area of Tooting, south London - was charged with crimes relating to a violation of Iraqi passport laws. A day later, he was tried, convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. His Iraqi lawyer said court proceedings lasted less than an hour.

At Baghdad central court, Muneef admitted bribing a Syrian taxi driver to take him into Iraq in late 2004 and swapping his British ID for false Iraqi identification. Although he was sentenced in an Iraqi court, Muneef remains in US custody at an unknown detention centre in Iraq. He has appealed against the sentence.

Muneef was arrested by US marines on December 7 2004, allegedly in the company of Iraqi insurgents. US military officials later alleged that he was carrying several weapons, including four AK47s, and had traces of explosives on his hands, but no such accusations were made in court.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Muneef's brother, Amaer, said his sibling was an "average guy" who went to Iraq to assist with humanitarian operations.

"It seems he's been tried under a Saddam-style legal system. He's received 15 years for a passport offence which he pleaded guilty to. I thought this was the kind of dictatorial practice the Americans wanted to get rid of. Suggestions that he had terrorist or extremist connections are unfounded and unproven. Mobeen always spoke out against extremism.


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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1758313,00.html