BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: A number of Baghdad citizens have condemned the release of U.S.
Army Corporal, Charles Granz, accused of torturing detainees in Baghdad’s Abu-Ghuraib Prison in 2004, considering the measure as “humiliation of the lives and pride of Iraqis,” and calling for his retrial and sentencing him to death or life-imprisonment.

“The release of a person, who had committed torture against Iraqis, most of them innocent people, is unjustified and considered as humiliation of the lives and pride of Iraqis,” Riyadh Khalifa, 37, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency

“The American Judiciary had always humiliated the bloodshed of Iraqis, and the U.S.
Army and the American security companies have also humiliated the lives and pride of the Iraqi people; and the decision to release Corporal Granz had been a humiliation of our lives, because he must be retried and sentenced to death or life imprisonment, or else his retrial by an independent Iraqi court,” Khalifa said.

Sajjad al-Mayahi, 40, of central Baghdad’s Karrada district said that “the Abu-Ghuraib scandal had undermined the Humanitarian feelings, through vicious acts carried out by members of the U.S.
Army; and we can’t understand the nature of the American laws, and the means of their actions, taking into consideration that the United States is a democratic state, ruled by vocational institutions, away from any impacts.”

Sana Shaker, in her 50s, said: “The release of the soldier, in charge of Abu-Ghuraib scandal, had not been the first such incident, as the American Judiciary had pardoned other soldiers, involved in killing innocent Iraqis.”

“Granz must be retried and presented to the judiciary or to an Iraqi court, along with the trial of all those involved in violations against Iraqis, during the period of Iraq’s occupation,” she said.

Imad Ismail, 28, living in east Baghdad’s Shaab district, said: “The United States is ridiculing the lives of Iraqis, including the victims of Abu-Ghuraib Prison, who have to raise judicial cases against those involved in torturing them.”

“We want nothing, but the retrial of anybody, involved in tortures or violations against Iraqis, including Corporal Granz; or sending them for trial in Iraqi courts,” Ismail said.

The U.S.
Army had announced on Saturday the release of Corporal Charles Granz, sentenced for 10 years for his role in practicing torture in Iraq’s Abu-Ghuraib Prison in 2004.

The Spokeswoman for the U.S.
Army, Rebecca Staid, had announced on Saturday the release of Corporal Charles Granz, 42, from a military prison in the U.S., after 6 years and 5 months of imprisonment, he was condemned by in Jan.
2005, laying him under judicial observation till Dec.
25, 2014.

Corporal Charles Granz had led a group of 6 prison guards, charged with having committed violations against prisoners in Baghdad’s Abu-Ghuraib Prison in 2004.

The photos, leaked about the Abu-Ghuraib scandal, had created a wave of international protests, after which Granz was sentenced for imprisonment and his Colleague, Lindy England, was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.

SKH (FT)