The news this morning brings the revelation that David Hicks has been charged with one offence - material support for terrorism. The charge of attempted murder has been dropped. As Major Mori, Hicks' American lawyer maintains, any charges against Hicks are not ones which any American would face.
The SMH reveals, today, details of the way Hicks has been held and tortured during the last 5 years. It makes for disturbing reading and immediately raises two matters. First, it shows to the world, yet again, the double standards of the Americans. All the talk of fairness, justice, democracy, etc. etc. ring rather hollow. Secondly, A-G Ruddock stands condemned for allowing to be locked up at Gitmo without being charged with any offence - and then, to face a miltary tribunal which abrogates all the basic rules of a fair trial.
"After arriving in Guantanamo Bay, David Hicks was shown a photo of a battered Mamdouh Habib and told he would be sent to Egypt for similar, brutal treatment if he did not co-operate with his US interrogators.
The startling new claim of abuse is one of many made by Mr Hicks in a document to be presented in May to a British court as he pursues British citizenship.
It also provides unexpected insights into Mr Hicks. He says he is no longer a Muslim, is studying to complete high school by correspondence, getting top marks, and planning to attend university.
The document's main purpose is to chronicle mistreatment and torture by US guards and interrogators, as experienced and witnessed by Mr Hicks. He says that his captors' strategy was to create a climate of extreme fear that Mr Hicks says forced him to "say anything" to his interrogators to avoid further punishment."
The SMH reveals, today, details of the way Hicks has been held and tortured during the last 5 years. It makes for disturbing reading and immediately raises two matters. First, it shows to the world, yet again, the double standards of the Americans. All the talk of fairness, justice, democracy, etc. etc. ring rather hollow. Secondly, A-G Ruddock stands condemned for allowing to be locked up at Gitmo without being charged with any offence - and then, to face a miltary tribunal which abrogates all the basic rules of a fair trial.
"After arriving in Guantanamo Bay, David Hicks was shown a photo of a battered Mamdouh Habib and told he would be sent to Egypt for similar, brutal treatment if he did not co-operate with his US interrogators.
The startling new claim of abuse is one of many made by Mr Hicks in a document to be presented in May to a British court as he pursues British citizenship.
It also provides unexpected insights into Mr Hicks. He says he is no longer a Muslim, is studying to complete high school by correspondence, getting top marks, and planning to attend university.
The document's main purpose is to chronicle mistreatment and torture by US guards and interrogators, as experienced and witnessed by Mr Hicks. He says that his captors' strategy was to create a climate of extreme fear that Mr Hicks says forced him to "say anything" to his interrogators to avoid further punishment."
Comments