WASHINGTON - April 24 - A federal judge will review a challenge to the indefinite detention of Guantánamo detainee Mohammed Jawad on Monday, April 27 in Washington, D.C. Lawyers for Jawad, who has been in U.S. military custody since he was as young as 14, have charged that he is being held indefinitely based on a false "confession" obtained through torture. This is the first federal court hearing challenging his detention.

In February, the government filed a motion continuing Bush administration efforts to deny Jawad his right to challenge his detention in federal court until after the Guantánamo military commission case against him is complete, even though President Obama has ordered a halt to all military commission proceedings. On Wednesday, Judge Ellen S. Huvelle denied the Justice Department's motion.

WHAT:
First court hearing in the habeas challenge to the indefinite detention of Guantánamo detainee Mohammed Jawad

WHEN:
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. EDT

WHERE:
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

WHO:
Judge Ellen S. Huvelle will preside over the hearing. Attorneys on Jawad's habeas case are Jonathan Hafetz of the American Civil Liberties Union, Arthur Spitzer of the ACLU of the National Capital Area and U.S. Air Force Major David J. R. Frakt.

More information about the case is available online at: www.aclu.org/jawad