Amnesty International blasted onThursday, March 22, the
"After more than five years of holding hundredsof prisoners in a virtual legal vacuum the US authorities are now adding insultto injury by pressing ahead with grossly unfair trials," said Kate Allen,Amnesty's United Kingdom director.
Launching its report, "Justice delayed andjustice denied?", the London-based human rights group insisted that the
"Military commissions are a complete travestyof justice -- no more, no less," Allen insisted.
"The military commissions will be convenedfollowing a trail of illegality, with those to be tried arbitrarily detainedand ill-treated for years."
The 116-page report highlighted the limited right ofappeal and the risk of so-called "enemy combatants" being returned toindefinite custody even if acquitted.
It said likely defendants were victims of secretdetention, secret transfers from country to country, torture or cruel, inhumanor degrading treatment.
"We want to see the
The
Unlike the military commissions that hear war crimescharges, the
Instead of having access to a lawyer, "enemycombatants" are represented at the hearings by a military officer.
More Breaches
Amnesty also urged foreign governments, including
It scolded the Tony Blair government's position onthe notorious camp, where the
"Recently we've begun to hear relatively strongcriticism from the UK Government about the 'affront to democracy' that
"Now we want to see that backed byaction."
At least eight men with
They include 37-year-old Omar Deghayes, who has beenheld there since his detention in
Deghayes, whose family are officially recognizedrefugees from
"It's frightening that my brother's ordeal at
She urged the Blair government to help her brother.
"We want the
"The family has always said that we're notlooking for special favors for Omar - only justice."
Click hereto read the report infull.