On the heels of a federal appeals court ruling that only Congress and the executive branch of government – not the courts — can interfere with government-sponsored “extraordinary rendition,” a U.S. citizen from New Jersey is asking another court to tell the government it wasn’t OK to secretly imprison and abuse him in three different African countries over a period of four months.
November 13, 2009 | Filed under
Law |
Read More »
It appears that reapproval of controversial provisions of the Patriot Act may happen soon – evidently with a green light from the Obama Administration and over strong objections from human rights and civil liberties groups. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the USA Patriot Act Extension Act of 2009. The bill makes only minor changes to the original Patriot Act and was further watered down by amendments adopted during the Committee’s deliberations.
November 2, 2009 | Filed under
Politics |
Read More »
The 15th anniversary of the U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture passed last week with little fanfare and virtually no press attention from the mainstream media here. But according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “U.S. policy continues to fall short of ensuring full compliance with the treaty.” For example, the organization said that an appendix to the Army Field Manual (AFM) can still facilitate cruel treatment of prisoners and detainees at home and abroad.
October 27, 2009 | Filed under
Torture |
Read More »
David Cole’s new book is two things: First, a collection of six of the previously-published “torture memos” written between 2002 and 2006 by lawyers at the Bush-era Office of Legal Counsel. Yes, the ones that used law to justify the “enhanced interrogation techniques” now so well known. And, second, Cole’s commentary on this distortion of the law and its implications for our society
September 24, 2009 | Filed under
Commentary |
Read More »
Human rights activists and legal experts reacted swiftly today to disclosures that the U.S. Government is planning to introduce new measures they claim would give inmates at Afghanistan’s notorious Bagram prison more opportunities to challenge their detention.
Their views range from cautious optimism to total condemnation.
There are some 600-plus prisoners being held at the U.S. military [...]
September 14, 2009 | Filed under
World |
Read More »
As 13 prisoners held at the U.S. naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, appeared set to finally win their freedom, others are asking their release to be deferred. The problem is that some of those cleared for release fear they will be tortured if they are transferred to other countries, in some cases their home countries.
September 10, 2009 | Filed under
World |
Read More »
The growing caseload of habeas corpus petitions has been seen as a contest between executive authority and judicial independence. While judges may find in favor of detainees and order them released – the usual remedy for habeas petitions — they are apparently powerless to enforce their rulings. As a result, 20 of the 29 prisoners ordered released are still at Guantanamo.
September 6, 2009 | Filed under
World |
Read More »
Thanks to America Online, we’ve just hit a new low in the dumbing down of news. Not a bottom, mind you, just a new low. Because the lowest of the low is probably some years off.
September 5, 2009 | Filed under
Commentary |
Read More »
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that former Attorney General John Ashcroft can be held personally responsible for the wrongful detention of Abdullah al-Kidd, a U.S. citizen, who was on his way to Saudi Arabia when he was arrested in Washington’s Dulles Airport on March 16, 2003 as a material witness in the trial of Sami Omar Al-Hussayem.
September 4, 2009 | Filed under
Law |
Read More »
Did physicians and psychologists help the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency develop a new research protocol to assess and refine the use of waterboarding or other harsh interrogation techniques?
This is the question being raised in a new report by a leading human rights organization. The group says that, if confirmed, it would likely constitute a “new, [...]
September 1, 2009 | Filed under
Torture |
Read More »
