Jury Awards $42 Million to Abu Ghraib Victims

A federal jury has ordered CACI Premier Technology Inc., a Virginia-based defense contractor, to pay $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison during the U.S. occupation in 2003 and 2004. Plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Asa'ad Zuba'e, and Salah Al-Ejaili were awarded $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages for the abuse they suffered. This ruling marks a significant legal precedent as it is the first instance of a civilian contractor being held accountable for the detainee abuses at the infamous prison. The plaintiffs accused CACI of complicity in the torture by encouraging military personnel to mistreat detainees to make them more compliant for interrogations. CACI plans to appeal the verdict, claiming it was not responsible for the actions of U.S. military personnel. The case highlights ongoing issues of accountability for human rights violations during the Iraq War and the role of private contractors in such abuses.