WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the detention of an American citizen who was picked up on the Syrian battlefield for allegedly fighting with Islamic State militants.
U.S. officials say the unidentified American surrendered to U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces around Sept. 12, and has been detained in Iraq since then as an unlawful enemy combatant.
The ACLU on Thursday filed a petition in U.S. District Court in Washington, alleging that the American is being unlawfully detained by the U.S. military without charge, without access to counsel and without access to a court.
The U.S. military has not publicly disclosed the man’s name or exactly where he is being held, but has confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross visited with him on Friday.
