The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

James Freedland, (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

ACLU Monitoring Unconstitutional Guantanamo Military Commissions Today

The
American Civil Liberties Union is at Guantanamo monitoring the military
commission hearings of Saudi national Ahmed Mohammed Al Darbi scheduled
for today.

Jennifer Turner of the ACLU Human Rights Program will be observing today's proceedings.

Al Darbi, who has been held in U.S.
custody for six years, has been charged with conspiracy and providing
material support for terrorism based on alleged connections to al-Qaeda.

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba

The
American Civil Liberties Union is at Guantanamo monitoring the military
commission hearings of Saudi national Ahmed Mohammed Al Darbi scheduled
for today.

Jennifer Turner of the ACLU Human Rights Program will be observing today's proceedings.

Al Darbi, who has been held in U.S.
custody for six years, has been charged with conspiracy and providing
material support for terrorism based on alleged connections to al-Qaeda.

Tainted by political interference,
the Guantanamo military commission proceedings have been marred by
ethical and legal problems from day one. Among other things, the
proceedings allow the admission of secret evidence, hearsay and
evidence obtained through torture. The Bush administration has admitted
that at least three detainees in its custody have been subjected to
waterboarding.

The ACLU has been present as an
independent observer at nearly every commission hearing since 2004 and
continues to see no indication that the proceedings are fair, impartial
or in accordance with constitutional principles.

An ACLU video, along with a petition
calling on President-elect Obama to shut down Guantanamo and the
military commissions, is online at: closegitmo.com

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

(212) 549-2666