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N: Enab Elmaghraby, a 38-year-old Egyptian man, has become the first person to receive financial compensation from the US government for wrongful detention. His lawyer is Alexander Reinert.
A Reinert: The government motivation why they decided to settle with Mr. Elmaghraby, because they want to end the allegation. Because they think if want to go forward they might lose in the future.
N: Elmaghraby, who used to run a restaurant near Times Square, was arrested in October of 2001 and held at Metropolitan Detention center in Brooklyn until August 2002. After his release he was deported back to Egypt. According his lawyer Reinert, there were no reasons for his arrest.
A Reinert: He was arrested as a part of general swept, which the US conducted after September 11 in which they targeted Muslim and Arab immigrants. But he has never been charged or suspected in anything having with terrorism or September 11.
N: In his lawsuit Elmaghraby accused the US government of violating his rights and said that he was abused in detention. He was held under maximum-security conditions. Reinert says.
A Reinert: While he was there he was held in solitary confinement. He stands in his cell at least for 23 hours. He was permitted of exercises. He was cut of communications with his attorney and his family. He was beaten while in the detention. He was subjected to strip searches while he was in detention.
N: Researcher Jamie Fellner from the advocacy group Human Rights hopes that Elmaghraby's case can be become a precedent for other instances of wrongful detention.
A Fellner: I think that it is very significant. I think that it makes very clear for the United States that in the country, which is bounded with a rule of law, where is a violation there is a remedy.
N: This case, according to the Lecturer at Columbia University and Former United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Mary Robinson shows how human rights standards have been damaged since the 9/11 attack.
A Robinson: many of us thought that it would be a difficult time for human rights. Honestly, no one of us thought how it is difficult going to be.
N: Robinson said about 500 men are still in detention in Guantanamo, at the US military prison camp in Cuba. They have been held there without any charges for almost five years. She said that she supported the recent report of five UN special reporteurs, who suggested immediately closing Guantanamo prison. But American officials denounced the report; this reaction, Robinson said, was stunning.
A Robinson: To have such a credible international report rubbished, it is what happened, it is truly shocking for the system.
N: Robinson said she expected a different reaction.
A Robinson: Saying this is serious report by serious experts. We are not happy with it, but will look at it; we will seriously examine and will answer each point. That would be appropriate way to respond.
N: Pakistani journalist Khawar Rizvi said that violations of human rights by the US government set a bad example for other countries. Rizvi was arrested in December 2003 in Pakistan, while doing a report about the presence of Taliban groups in Pakistan which embarrassed Pakistani officials. He says he was tortured in custody, but officials have denied his detention.
A Rizvi: US delegation visited Pakistan and one of the official asked about my disappearance. And then one of the Pakistani official replied, but Sir, what you doing in Guantanamo.
N: The Us government says that there are dangerous terrorists in Guantanamo, White House spokesman Scott McClellan has said that prisoners there have been trained to provide false information.
In the case of Elmaghraby's settlement, government lawyers said that officials were not admitting any wrongdoing.
But as his lawyer Alexander Reinert believes, the settlement decision is important.
A Reinert: And the fact that United States settled with Mr. Elmaghraby it is significant statement by the United States that what happened with Mr. Elmaghraby deserves compensation.
N: Reinert believe that the case of Elmaghraby shows that the government can be held accountable for the abuses that have occurred in Guantanamo Bay and in prisons right here in the United States.
Galima Bukharbaeva, Columbia Radio News.