GDN:Bay law misery for families

By KANWAL TARIQ HAMEED
Published: 1 October 2006

FAMILIES of Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo Bay have reacted with dismay after a law was passed in the US, which will ban inmates from contesting their detention on US soil.

The law, approved by the US Senate on Thursday and currently awaiting ratification by US President George Bush, has already drawn criticism from international human rights bodies.

United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak has criticised the law for preventing detainees from contesting their imprisonment in court and for failing to adequately outlaw extreme interrogation tactics.

By KANWAL TARIQ HAMEED
Published: 1 October 2006

FAMILIES of Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo Bay have reacted with dismay after a law was passed in the US, which will ban inmates from contesting their detention on US soil.

The law, approved by the US Senate on Thursday and currently awaiting ratification by US President George Bush, has already drawn criticism from international human rights bodies.

Amnesty International (AI) officials have announced that they intend to launch a campaign against the law, saying it “put the American people through a maze that led to a faulty policy and, in the process, lost a little more of its standing with the global community and the American public”.

Families of Bahraini Bay detainees have reiterated a plea to the Bahraini government to step up diplomatic measures to negotiate the release of Juma Al Dossary, 32, Salah Al Blooshi, 24, and Isa Al Murbati, 41.

New York-based lawyers for the three have said that diplomatic negotiations are the only avenue to seek their release right now.

“Really, I don’t expect anything else from the US government because every now and then they come up with a new law like this,” said Al Dossary’s brother Khalid.

“Things are getting complicated now, but the American people are good and they are passionate – and I want the move (against this) to come from the American people and the Bahrain government.

“I don’t know about the Bahraini government’s negotiations on the issue, but I really urge them to work hard – now it’s almost five years they have been there, this is a waste of their lives.”

The law will only increase anti-American sentiments, he added. “The US government has created enemies for the American people in the world,” he said.

“This is not because people hate freedom, this is because of the laws and the situation (the US government) created.”

Almost one year since three Bahrainis were returned home from Guantanamo Bay during Eid last year, families of those still there say they hope for similar news.

“My mother, every time she sits for Iftar to break her fast, prays to God, so hard, to free Juma from there,” said Mr Al Dossary.

“When all of his brothers and sisters sit together (in Ramadan) there is still one person missing, and this is Juma.”

Al Blooshi’s father Abdul Rasool echoed Mr Al Dossary’s statement, adding that the new law had left the family wondering what would happen next.

“Just last night my wife was talking, saying we hadn’t even heard his voice – and was really very upset,” he said.

“We did not even see him.

“That law has made us worried because who knows what will happen, even though there are no charges against Salah and he has been told he was innocent for the last five years.

“The government should push more, they should work like the Kuwaitis and Saudis.”

“This law is a tyranny against them,” added wife of Isa Al Murbati, Elham Khalil.

“We are hopeful and we are praying, but there’s really nothing else we can do.”

More than two years ago, a US Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for Guantanamo Bay detainees to contest the legality of their imprisonment on US soil.

The new legislation overrides that decision and leaves the three Bahrainis, along with hundreds of others, stranded at the maximum-security facility, in Cuba, without the right to a trial in the US.

Lawyers have said they expect the US government to move to throw out cases filed on behalf of Al Murbati, Al Dossary and Al Blooshi, and that they envision a “long legal battle” ahead.

Al Murbati, Al Dossary and Al Blooshi have been imprisoned without trial for almost five years after being captured fleeing Afghanistan as it came under bombing from US and coalition troops in 2001.

Login