In an update on a story we’ve been following, a federal judge has rejected the bid of an American citizen facing the death penalty in Iraq to prevent the US military from handing him over to Iraqi forces. Mohammad Munaf was sentenced to death last week on charges of kidnapping of three Romanian journalists. Munaf was unable to hear or challenge the evidence against him. His lawyers say the judge had been prepared to dismiss the case until two US military officials intervened and told the judge to hand him the death penalty. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said he had no authority to intervene in the case because Munaf is currently being held by coalition forces and not just the U.S. military. It’s widely believed Munaf is being held in a U.S.-run prison. You can go to our website democracynow.org for our interview with Mohammad Munaf’s attorney on Tuesday’s show.