• Guantanamo’s System of Injustice
    Commentary
    Jan 19, 2012
    Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, chief prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions, has lately appeared at bar association conferences promoting “reformed military commissions” at Guantanamo. Yet this week, behind thick bulletproof glass in a secure hangar-like courtroom at Guantanamo, I saw vast differences between the two systems.
  • US: Make Guantanamo’s 10th Anniversary Its Last
    Press release
    Jan 11, 2012
    US President Barack Obama’s signing of a bill permitting indefinite detention without trial mere days before the 10th anniversary of the first prisoners arriving at Guantanamo highlights the need for immediate, decisive action to close the detention facility.
  • Letter to President Obama: End Detention Without Trial and Close Guantanamo
    Letter
    Jan 10, 2012
    Human Rights Watch writes to President Obama on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to urge him to reaffirm his stated commitment to closing Guantanamo by prosecuting detainees in federal court and repatriating and resettling those who will not be prosecuted.
  • US: Refusal to Veto Detainee Bill A Historic Tragedy for Rights
    Press release
    Dec 14, 2011
    US President Barack Obama’s apparent decision to not veto a defense spending bill that codifies indefinite detention without trial into US law and expands the military’s role in holding terrorism suspects does enormous damage to the rule of law both in the US and abroad.
  • US: President Should Veto Detainee Bill
    Press release
    Dec 1, 2011
    US President Barack Obama should hold firm on his promise to veto a bill passed by the Senate on December 1, 2011, which contains provisions on the detention of terrorism suspects that would undermine US counterterrorism efforts. The administration had previously outlined objections to the detainee provisions in the bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2012, and threatened a veto if the problems were not addressed.
  • Is Guantanamo Forever?
    Commentary
    Nov 28, 2011
    The Senate contemplates a bipartisan bill to make permanent the failed system of indefinite detention.
  • US: Sins of Commission
    Commentary
    Nov 11, 2011
    After nine years, the alleged al Qaeda mastermind of the USS Cole bombing is finally getting his day in court. But does anyone still think a military commission at Gitmo is a fair trial?
  • US: Reject Drastic Detention Measures in Defense Bill
    Press release
    Oct 5, 2011
    The US Senate should remove dangerous and counterproductive provisions in the defense spending bill that would militarize law enforcement in US terrorism cases and authorize long-term indefinite detention without charge.
  • Canada: Investigate Cheney for Role in Torture
    Press release
    Sep 24, 2011
    The Canadian government should be prepared to bring criminal charges against former US Vice President Dick Cheney for his alleged role in the torture of detainees when he visits Vancouver on September 26, 2011.
  • Ten Years After September 11
    Press release
    Sep 8, 2011