A United States Judge has ordered the release of 17 Chinese Uighers from Guantanamo Bay because there was no evidence that the men were a security risk and should not be incarcerated.
The 17 Chinese Uighers were deemed in 2004 not to be a security risk, but the US government claimed that they could not return the men back to China for fear that they would be abused upon their arrival, and that no other countries were willing to take the civilians in.
The Judge has ordered that the men be released and settled in the United States until it is safe for them to return back to China.
The decision by the United States Judge is a wonderful decision which will allow these innocent people to get their lives back in order. The 17 Chinese Uighers were incarcerated for 7 years. 7 Long years without any freedom for doing absolutely nothing wrong. The United States should have trialled the people immediately and if they were found innocent, should have been released into the United States were they can claim political asylum.
Human Rights First Senior Associate Deborah Colson said
Today's ruling takes yet another step toward dismantling the flawed legal framework underlying the detentions at Guantanamo and toward repairing our reputation as a nation committed to human rights and the rule of law.
Judge Urbina correctly found that the U.S. Constitution prohibits the indefinite detention of innocent men and women without legal cause.
The United States government is appealing the decision.
- Beju -
|