Letters to the Editor

Five detainees ordered released "forthwith" after seven years at Guantanamo If the U.S. Congress had its way, these men would continue to be imprisoned despite there being no evidence of their guilt. Glenn Greenwald [2008-11-20]

• Until they are actually out...

  I wrote a longer comment over at FDL where bmaz covers this decision too. The gist of what I said over there:

  One of the Bosnian-Algerians who has been ordered released is Saber Lahmar. I read up on him last June,

  http://humanityagainstcrimes.blogspot.com/2008/06/its-been-big-week.html

  http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/01/11/trapped_at_guantanamo/

  http://www.hrw.org/en/node/62183/section/5

  He's basically dying of extreme isolation and deprivation. So even if they are getting out tomorrow, Judge Leon should order right now, effective immediately, that the lights be turned off in his cell at night, that he be allowed to see other inmates, and that he get phone privileges to call his wife and children.

  If there is the inevitable appeal for a stay by the Bush people, he may not be going anywhere until at least January. It's inhumane to keep him in isolation and deprivation (lights on 24 hours is a form of sensory/sleep deprivation) any longer.

  Lawyers can be like doctors, I've noticed, concerned with the overall picture and sometimes not attentive to immediate pain. Don't let that happen here even though the end of the suffering is hopefully near.

  -- ondelette
  [Read ondelette's other letters]
  Permalink Flag Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:42 AM
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