Appeals Court: American Can Be Transferred to Iraq

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has rejected a second attempt by a U.S. citizen suspected of terrorism to stop the U.S. military from turning him over to Iraq.

Shawqi Omar is a dual citizen of Jordan and the U.S. He's been held by the military in Iraq since 2004 on evidence he supported al-Qaida. He denies the charges.

Omar argues he can't be transferred to Iraqi custody because he's likely to be tortured. The Bush and Obama administrations have argued he won't be.

The Supreme Court unanimously denied Omar's attempt to avoid transfer in 2008, ruling that U.S. courts can't intervene in foreign criminal proceedings. Omar's second case cites a different law than the first. But the federal appeals court in Washington ruled Friday that it is no more persuasive.