That’s just it, though, these people haven’t been found guilty of ‘any crimes what-so-ever’.Originally Posted by dpw39
In fact, they have not yet even been charged with anything. They have no access to the evidence upon which they are being held and have no contact with the outside world. They have been subjected to questioning techniques including sleep depravation and white noise.
Any trial that they do face will be before a military committee rather than a judge and jury. The committee, the prosecution, and their defence will all be appointed by the Department of Defence. The DoD will also specify the rules of the trial. The defendants will have no right to appeal and, if convicted, may face the death penalty.
Hardly seems conducive of a fair trial and sound conviction, does it?
If these people are guilty of the crimes that they will, eventually, be charged with then they should be held accountable. Until they can be given a fair trial there is no way that they can unquestionably be found to be guilty. The British government has an obligation to these people, regardless of their crimes, to ensure that they are given a fair trial.
The US seems to be singularly unable to provide that fair trial. Even the location of the detainees (Guantanamo) betrays the US desire to deny these people their basic human rights afforded under the American Constitution and legal system (the only reason they are being held on non-American soil).
Let us not forget that these people are being held by a nation who has refused to sign up to the International Criminal Court and has demanded that any US war criminals be tried in the US by a US court. There were even reports that the US had threatened to ‘rescue’ any of its citizens held in The Hague. Sauce for the Goose?????
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