US Court Blocks Release of Chinese
Muslims From Guantanamo
Dissenting Judge says Federal Court Lacks Authority
to Free Men
VOA News, October 21, 2008
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See Article III.3
Suspension of Due Process
| |
Soldiers in a Humvee patrol the perimeter
of the Camp Delta detention compound, at Guantanamo
Bay's US Naval Base, in Cuba, 06 Jun 2008
Source: AFP
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A U.S. federal appeals court has blocked the immediate
release of 17 Chinese Muslims from the Guantanamo
Bay military prison.
The court ruled two to one Monday that the men must
stay behind bars until at least November 24, when
the court hears the Bush administration's appeal of
a judge's order to release them.
The two judges, A. Raymond Randolph and Karen Henderson,
who ruled in favor of the government gave no comment.
But dissenting judge Judith Rogers said the court
does have the authority to order release of the detainees.
A federal judge in June ordered the men freed, saying
the government does not have the right to keep them
in detention since it has decided they are no longer
enemy combatants. The men have been held at Guantanamo
for seven years.
The government argues that they should remain imprisoned
until U.S authorities find new homes for them. It
also says the men received weapons training at a terrorist
camp.
Washington has balked at China's demand that the
17 be sent back home, fearing they would be tortured
if returned to China.
The Chinese Muslims are members of the Uighur minority
in far-western China's Xinjiang region. Beijing has
cracked down on those in the region it calls violent
separatists.
