Judge Rules $13 Million Due 4 Held by Baghdad

A federal judge in Washington has ordered the Iraqi government to pay nearly $13 million to four men who he ruled were tortured after being illegally detained by Baghdad.

Iraq also must pay $6 million to the men’s wives for their distress during separation from their husbands, the judge wrote.

Lawyers for the eight said there is no guarantee that any of the damages will be collected, but the legal team is looking into ways to do so.

Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Oberdorfer based his order on a 1996 law intended to help terrorism victims seek compensation from foreign nations.