Obama should review force-feeding at Guantanamo - judge
US: A US judge Monday rejected a legal bid by a Guantanamo detainee
to have his force-feeding blocked, but urged President Barack Obama to
review the issue to see if the controversial practice should end.
Authorities at the military prison at the US naval base in
southeastern Cuba say they are force-feeding 44 inmates out of an
estimated 120 prisoners who are on hunger strike.
US District Court Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that laws passed by
Congress prevent her from intervening in aspects of detention at
Guantanamo.
“Even though this court is obligated to dismiss the application for
lack of jurisdiction, and therefore lacks any authority to rule on
petitioner's request, there is an individual who does have the authority
to address the issue.” Kessler cited the President's speech of May 23,
in which he referred to the force-feeding of terror suspects on hunger
strike. “Is that who we are?” Obama asked in his speech.
“Is that the America we want to leave to our children? Our sense of
justice is stronger than that.” Kessler in her ruling also cited the US
Constitution enshrining the president's status as commander of all US
military forces.
“It would seem to follow, therefore, that the president of the United
States, as commander-in-chief, has the authority -- and power -- to
directly address the issue of force-feeding of the detainees at
Guantanamo Bay,” she said. A motion filed by rights watchdog Reprieve on
behalf of four detainees demands the immediate cessation of
force-feeding, decrying it as “torture.”
Kessler said main petitioner Jihad Dhiab sought rapid review of the
application because he feared that force-feeding during the day would
interfere with his fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, which
begins on July 8.
AFP
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