A United States defense contractor, CACI International, has been ordered to pay $42 million to three Iraqi men who endured torture at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The landmark decision by a US federal jury concluded a lengthy 15-year legal battle that held CACI accountable for its involvement in abuse at the prison.
The plaintiffs, Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa’ad Al-Zubae, each received $3 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages. This follows a previous federal trial in May that resulted in a hung jury. Baher Azmy, an attorney from the Center for Constitutional Rights, called the verdict a “significant measure of justice” and praised the plaintiffs’ courage and resilience.
Al Shimari, a school principal, Al-Ejaili, a journalist, and Al-Zuba’e, a fruit vendor, testified they suffered beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity, and other dehumanizing treatment while held at the prison. They accused CACI of complicity, asserting its interrogators collaborated with military police to intimidate and “soften up” detainees for questioning through harsh treatment. Evidence presented in court included reports from two retired US Army generals, who concluded that several CACI interrogators played a role in these abuses.
The lawsuit, filed initially in 2008, encountered numerous delays as CACI sought to dismiss the case, denying any direct responsibility. CACI claimed its interrogators had minimal contact with the plaintiffs and argued that any culpability for abuse should fall on the US government, referencing a legal doctrine asserting that contractors should not be liable when acting under military control.
However, plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that CACI was obligated to oversee its employees and adhere to international law. Attorney Katherine Gallagher stressed that this case reinforces accountability for private contractors, saying, “They can and will be held accountable for breaching fundamental protections, including the prohibition against torture.”
Al-Ejaili, who travelled to the US to testify, said, “This victory shines a light for those oppressed and sends a strong warning to any entity practicing torture.” The decision marks the first time in two decades that a US jury has heard testimony from Abu Ghraib survivors, a sobering reminder of the widespread abuses witnessed during the US occupation of Iraq.
