Hashim Ibrahim Awad (1952 - April 26, 2006) was a disabled Iraqi veteran killed by US Marines on the night of April 26, 2006, in an episode known as the Hamdania incident. Seven Marines and a Navy corpsman face charges of war crimes in relation to his death, including murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, larceny, assault and unlawfully entering a dwelling.. The men charged in his death are:

• Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Melson J. Bacos
• Sergeant Lawrence G. Hutchins III
• Lance Corporal Tyler A. Jackson.
• Private First Class John J. Jodka
• Corporal Marshall L. Magincalda
• Lance Corporal Robert B. Pennington
• Lance Corporal Jerry E. Shumate Jr.
• Corporal Trent D. Thomas

War injury

Hashim Ibrahim Awad was known as Hasim the Lame because of the metal bar that was surgically implanted in his leg. He had been injured in the war with Iran in the 1980s. He also suffered from limited eyesight.

Allegations

Pressure to become an informer

According to family members, Awad was pressured by US military personnel to become an informant against the insurgency. The area around Hamdania, a small village near Abu Ghraib prison, is an area of frequent insurgent attacks. His family indicated that Awad refused to become an informer.

Early morning abduction and killing

According to family members, around 2:00am on the night of April 26, 2006, US Marines went house to house in the small village pounding on doors. At the house of Awad's cousin's family they confiscated the family AK-47 (each family in Iraq is entitled to own one rifle), as well as a shovel. When they arrived at Awad's house the Marines were seen pulling him out of the house by the arms without asking him any questions. Approximately 30 minutes later gun shots were heard. In the morning the family was informed by local police that Hashim Ibrahim Awad had been shot in the face and left in a hole dug by the side of the road, with the AK-47 and shovel beside him as though he had been digging a hole to plant an IED.

Offer of payment to the family in return for a cover up

According to Awad's brother, Saadoun Ibrahim, shortly after the death a US soldier made the family an offer. "We are ready to compensate you with the money you want, on one condition, which is when the investigation committee comes back, you tell them that your brother worked with the insurgents and had connections with the insurgents, and that he used to go out at night to places you don't know."

It is not known if this soldier was among the eight who now face murder charges.

See also

• Human rights in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq

References