Human shields face 12 years' jail for visiting Iraq

Anti-war activists who visited Iraq before the US invasion have discovered that they could face up to 12 years in prison and $1m in fines.
Although travel firms now tout adventure tours to a country that is a temporary home to 150,000 US troops, scores of American protesters have been warned they risk fines or imprisonment for violating a prewar travel ban.

During the past few weeks a retired schoolteacher in her 60s and a number of other activists have received warnings from the US treasury that they could face punishment for travelling to Iraq.

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"I am a bit taken aback," admitted Bitta Mostofi, who spent two months in Iraq just before the war. "I am surprised that you would fine a group of people taking medicine and toys, and then go and take them to court."

Other activists saw the enforcement campaign as a chance to reopen the war debate. "I say bring it on," said Ellen Barfield, an activist from Baltimore who went to Iraq last winter. "I don't want the hassle, but obviously it publicises the issue. So I say: 'Go ahead and do what you say you are going to do and punish people who went to Iraq out of a fine concern for human beings.'"


more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1017348,00.html

whatever that is anymore.