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June 12, 2013

Admin Scales Back Gitmo Tribunals 
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The Obama administration is scaling back plans for trying Guantánamo
Bay prisoners in military tribunals. Guantánamo's top military
prosecutor says up to 20 prisoners will now face trials, down from a
previous estimate of 36. The move came in response to a recent appeals
court decision that rejected the prosecution of "material support"
allegations retroactively. The number of 20 prosecutions means just 3
percent of all Guantánamo Bay prisoners to date will ever stand trial.
In a statement, the legal charity Reprieve said: "This shockingly low
figure demonstrates what a terrible mistake Guantanamo has been, and
just how many lives have been ruined for no good reason. ... It is high
time President Obama got his act together and deliver on his promise to
close this prison." More than half of Guantánamo Bay's remaining
prisoners have been cleared for release, and over 100 are on a hunger
strike.

 

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