The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

AIUSA media office, 202-544-0200
x302, lspann@aiusa.org

Amnesty International Pleased by SCOTUS Decision to Review Al-Marri Enemy Combatant Case

US Supreme Court Will Decide Whether the President Can Hold Detainees Indefinitely in the United States

WASHINGTON

Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision to rule whether the U.S. government may hold detainees without charges indefinitely in the United States:

"Today's announcement is a welcome step which we hope will lead to a restoration of due process to an individual who has been denied the most basic of legal rights. It is mind boggling that a U.S. administration could imprison someone without charge in isolation for more than five years--tactics more often associated with a dictatorship than a democracy. In three previous decisions regarding the Bush administration's detention policies in its war on terror, the Court found in favor of the rule of law, thereby rebuffing President Bush's executive overreach.

Amnesty International considers Mr. al-Marri to be arbitrarily detained in violation of international human rights law, and calls for him to be charged and tried in federal court or released.

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.