US court’s Bay ruling worries activists
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 22nd February 2007
HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have reacted with disappointment to the news that a US appeals court has upheld an anti-terrorism clause that says Guantanamo Bay inmates cannot challenge their detention.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia this week ruled in favour of the stipulation being kept in the Military Commissions Act.
It also said that the act does not violate the US constitution and that it was legal to deny hearings to any non-US citizens who are deemed “enemy combatants” even if they were to be detained forever.
US court’s Bay ruling worries activists
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 22nd February 2007
HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have reacted with disappointment to the news that a US appeals court has upheld an anti-terrorism clause that says Guantanamo Bay inmates cannot challenge their detention.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia this week ruled in favour of the stipulation being kept in the Military Commissions Act.
It also said that the act does not violate the US constitution and that it was legal to deny hearings to any non-US citizens who are deemed “enemy combatants” even if they were to be detained forever.
Two Bahraini prisoners are still being held at the prison camp, after being detained without charge or trial for more than five years – Isa Al Murbati, 41, and Juma Al Dossary, 32.
President of the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and vice-president Nabeel Rajab are currently in New York for a meeting with legal team head Joshua Colangelo-Bryan and other officials.
“The decision means that Juma and Isa are in even more desperate need for help from the Bahraini government,” said Mr Rajab,
Three other Bahrainis, Adel Kamel Hajee, Abdulla Al Nuaimi and Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, were released from Guantanamo in November 2005, while Salah Al Blooshi was released from custody and returned to Bahrain in October last year.
© Gulf Daily News
