Reprieve deplores unjust Guantánamo “war crimes” trial

British legal action charity Reprieve denounces the just completed trial of
Guantánamo prisoner Salim Hamdan as unjust and illegal.

“Fighting terrorism is a deadly serious game, but the show trial of Salim Hamdan
looks like amateur hour. We heard during closing arguments that Salim Hamdan
gave the US information about where Osama Bin Laden was – and the US botched
the job. At the last minute of the trial, prosecutors realized they hadn’t proven some
of the charges, so asked the judge to rewrite the law. And throughout, evidence
gained from coercion – evidence that would never be allowed in a civilian or regular
military court – was allowed to form the very heart of the prosecution’s case. These
trials need to be professional, clear and open. Instead, we’ve got a shambles that
brings us no closer to justice,” Zachary Katznelson, Legal Director of Reprieve
stated.

He added: “These trials are not just about a few men and what they may have done
– they are about the message the United States is sending to the world. And that
message right now is flat wrong: convictions by any means necessary. The US
needs to show it stands for openness and fairness – the very values we are fighting
for. Instead, we get verdicts rammed down the gullet of justice. That’s not going to
bring anyone over to our side.”

For further information, please contact Andy Worthington at Reprieve’s Press
Office on 020 7427 1099 or email: Andy@reprieve.org.uk

Notes for editors
Reprieve, a legal action charity, uses the law to enforce the human rights of
prisoners, from death row to Guantánamo Bay. Reprieve lawyers represent 32
prisoners in Guantánamo. Reprieve investigates, litigates and educates, working
on the frontline, to provide legal support to prisoners unable to pay for it
themselves.

Reprieve

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London EC4P 4WS

Tel: 020 7353 4640

Fax: 020 7353 4641

Email: info@reprieve.org.uk

Website: www.reprieve.org.uk

Reprieve is a charitable company limited by guarantee; Registered Charity No. 1114900 Registered Company No. 5777831 (England) Registered Office 2-6 Cannon Street London EC4M 6YH; Patrons: Alan Bennett, Julie Christie, Martha Lane Fox, Gordon Roddick, Jon Snow, Marina Warner