[Peace-discuss] Jose Padilla

[msimon at uiuc.edu]

From the Center for Constitutional Rights:

Appeals Court Rejects the Indefinite Detention of US Citizen 

The Second Circuit of Appeals determined today that the President of the United States has no authority under the Constitution to imprison an American citizen as an enemy combatant without any charge. The case dealt with so-called "dirty bomber" Jose Padilla. The issues addressed in CCR's amicus brief played a key role in the decision of the court. 

To read more about this important decision go to: 
http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/reports/report.asp?ObjID=SUaOklNr8c&Content=313 


Department of Justice Further Criticized by Office of Inspector General 

The Office of the Inspector General issued a highly critical report today on the treatment of detainees at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City. The detainees in question were Arab and Muslim men incarcerated immediately in the wake of 9/11. The report documents a long history of abuse including beatings. To this date, none of these people have been charged with crimes related to terrorism. The report confirms many of the allegations made in CCR’s lawsuit Turkmen v. Ashcroft. The report also states that many of conversations between the detainees and their lawyers (including CCR) were illegally videotaped and recorded. 

Senior Attorney Nancy Chang: "All Americans should be grateful to the Inspector General for his tenacity in uncovering evidence that had previously been withheld from him concerning the horrific treatment of Muslim and Arab detainees by MDC prison officials following September 11. These detainees were targeted based on their religion and ethnicity alone, and the emotionally charged atmosphere following the tragedy of September 11 cannot serve as an excuse for this brutality." 

To read more about this scathing indictment, go to: 
http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/reports/report.asp?ObjID=pQI7GB94gP&Content=312