News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International

Guantánamo: Amnesty International responds to Military Commission Judge’s ruling to drop Khadr charges

Jumana Musa, Amnesty International’s legal observer at the military commission hearings in Guantánamo Bay for the last two years issued the following statement in response to today’s significant ruling by the military commissions judge to drop charges against Omar Khadr:

“Today’s ruling is the most significant setback since the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the original military commissions. It also signals that these commissions need to be scrapped and the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay must be closed now. The judge’s decision clearly indicates that a fair trial is not possible within a system that is being developed as it proceeds. It raises more questions about the Bush administration and Congress’ wisdom and logic in rushing to patch together a new system of justice, when there are fully functioning federal courts that can not only offer fair trials but also come with established procedure.”

For more information, please see United States of America: Justice delayed and justice denied? Trials under the Military Commissions Act on http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maagEs4abyZS7cksvcKb/

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