Key Iraqi Shiite Describes 'Humiliation' at U.S. Hands

Feb. 24, 2007 — -- Thousands of Shiites rallied in Najaf, Iraq, on Saturday to protest the nearly 12-hour detention by U.S. troops of Amar al-Hakim, 35, the oldest son of Iraq's most influential Shiite politician, Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who heads the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Troops detained Amar al-Hakim on Friday as he crossed back into the country from Iran. The U.S. military called the detention "unfortunate."

Al-Hakim spoke to ABC News today about the incident, which he said calls into question the Iraqi government's sovereignty in its own country.

ABC News: It's been said that the investigation has been closed and the case over without any further measures. What do you say to that?

Amar al-Hakim: Indeed, we are sorry that we were arrested in that manner. I was handcuffed during that arrest, or custody, when I was also blindfolded, and I was humiliated by being shouted at and abused, and in some cases pushed even after they found out clearly about our identity.

They told me my passport was invalid. I showed them the date on it that indicates its validity.

In a case like this, whereby a figure of national influence and wide-range popularity is insulted and kept in humiliating custody together with his bodyguards, who had all the official passes and were following the right legal procedures.

The passport was shown at the border check point and to the Iraqi officials where it was stamped.

I was even received by the border officers. Despite of all that, the abuse happened and I was told that the investigation was over. This is regrettable.

We believe that credibility of the United States is being gravely cracked when figures and bodies who have always stood fast defending the political process -- encouraging tolerance and non-violence, while contributing to consolidating the Iraqi national stance and adopting a position against using arms in facing foreign forces in favor of resorting to peaceful methods -- are so badly treated.

All these measures are taken towards figures who follow such moderate, middle-range attitude. This evokes a lot of concerns among the Iraqis, and confuses the credibility of the United States and exposes it to many dangers in Iraq, as I believe.