Feb 18th, 2009
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 4:35pm	National Security

Justice (Indefinitely) Delayed

On January 12, the ACLU filed a habeas corpus petition on behalf of Guantánamo detainee Mohammed Jawad, who was a teenager when he was taken into U.S. custody in Afghanistan. The case seeks to challenge the basis for Jawad’s illegal detention and prosecution in the unconstitutional military commissions system in a federal court. Even Jawad’s former military prosecutor, Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld supports our case. He left the military commissions because he did not believe he could ethically prosecute Jawad’s case because there is "no credible evidence or legal basis" to justify Jawad's detention and prosecution.

Just two days after the Bush Justice Department received our petition, DOJ attorneys filed a motion to dismiss or delay our case on the grounds that the federal court should wait for Jawad's military commission case to end. But of course, the landscape changed after President Obama took office and issued an executive order instructing Defense Secretary Gates to seek a halt to all military commission cases, including Jawad's.

The President’s Order is a good first step to end the ignominious commissions, but it cannot be used — as the government now is using it in Jawad’s case — to delay habeas relief. We also believe that the flawed and unconstitutional military commissions system should never be revived. So today we filed our brief opposing the government's motion to dismiss. Check out a new video about the case featuring ACLU National Security Project staff attorney Hina Shamsi:

Please note that by playing this clip You Tube and Google will place a long-term cookie on your computer. Please see You Tube's privacy statement on their website and Google's privacy statement on theirs to learn more. To view the ACLU's privacy statement, click here.

Mohammed Jawad has now spent six years — nearly a third of his life — at Guantánamo, and has been subjected to torture and cruelty there. Six years is a lifetime for anyone, not just a teenager; in this case, justice delayed is truly justice denied.

Permalink |	National Security

Tags: Mohammed Jawad, video

1. Liberal Hater Says:
   Feb 18th, 2009 at 11:12pm

   Fuck Mohammed Jawad and fuck you bastards.

2. Paen Says:
   Feb 19th, 2009 at 2:23pm

   If you keep this up Liberal Hater I am going to tell your Mother about the kind of bad language you have been using.

3. ~Alexander~ Says:
   Feb 20th, 2009 at 2:00pm

   Liberal Hater obviously comes from a very poor, bad and unrefined upbringing in order for him to spew such a boorish language, time for him to grow up and join the mainstream civilized society,.Profanity is a sign of immaturity and an uneducated mind.

4. ~Alexander~ Says:
   Feb 20th, 2009 at 4:01pm

   The Liberal Hater is a religious bigot and a racist for making such profanity statement.Obviously you are of a shallow mind and an intolerance at that,Why a shallow mind ?, cos you never think further than your your own male genital, Just think, if its an american teenager captured illegally in a foreign country cos he happens to be at the wrong time at the wrong place,,would you spew that kind of obscenity ? Lets bring it even closer to home,,how about if he is your son, or your younger brother, would you be so cavalier about the treatment he received n the injustice done on him,,?While we all agree that terrorists, whoever they are should be stomped out, lets not rush into judgment and condemn anyone merely by association of guilt simply because he has a Muslim name,,Shame on you Liberal hater for your religious bigotry, racism and prejudice.

5. lokywoky Says:
   Feb 21st, 2009 at 4:47am

   Liberal Hater is the reason why 'they hate us'. When someone spews as much hate as Liberal Hater - the natural result is unfortunately - hate back.

   Liberal Hater thinks he/she is a Christian no doubt. But I wonder what Jesus would say to someone like him...something like oh, I don't know - love your enemies.

   Well, I try mightly to love LH, even though I am not a Christian, but it is awfully hard when LH seems to have the view that if you don't agree with his twisted point of view - you are some kind of animal. We are supposed to love even the animals - but that is also lost on LH.

   I am so sorry for you Liberal Hater. Your life must be such a miserable marathon of anger, stress and loneliness.