William Fisher

William Fisher writes for Inter Press Service.

Privacy Groups Challenge US Airport Body Scanners

More than 30 privacy and civil liberties organizations have filed a formal petition with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), urging the federal agency to shut down the use of ‘full body scanners’ (FBS) at the nation’s airports. At a press conference, Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), one of the … Continue reading “Privacy Groups Challenge US Airport Body Scanners”

Prosecutor Seeks Anonymous Jury in New York ‘Terror’ Trial

U.S. Justice Department lawyers petitioned a federal court Wednesday to begin a controversial terror-related trial in New York City with an "anonymous jury" in order to protect the jurors, lawyers and court officials. The motion asks that the jurors hearing the case of U.S. citizen Syed Fahad Hashmi for conspiracy to provide material support to … Continue reading “Prosecutor Seeks Anonymous Jury in New York ‘Terror’ Trial”

Guantanamo Detainee Ordered Freed

After nine years in captivity, a U.S. federal court has ordered the release of a Guantanamo prisoner once described as the "highest-value detainee at the facility" – and set off a firestorm of protest from Republican lawmakers. Federal District Judge James Robertson ruled in Washington, D.C., that the U.S. could not continue to detain Mohamedou … Continue reading “Guantanamo Detainee Ordered Freed”

Judge Rebukes Bush-Era Spying Program

The efforts of the Barack Obama administration to maintain the secrecy of the counterterrorism policies of its predecessor, the administration of former President George W. Bush, hit a major speed bump last week. On March 31, a federal judge ruled that the National Security Agency violated a 1978 federal statute requiring court approval for domestic … Continue reading “Judge Rebukes Bush-Era Spying Program”

Republicans Seek Deal on Detainee Trials

The prominent scholar who believes that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, self-styled mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks, should receive no trial is nonetheless advising Sen. Lindsey Graham on a proposal to the White House to create "an overarching detainee framework", including a new approach to habeas corpus petitions and indefinite detention of "too dangerous to free" … Continue reading “Republicans Seek Deal on Detainee Trials”

Families Sue Over Guantánamo Deaths

The families of two prisoners who died at the U.S. Navy Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, are asking a federal court to reconsider its ruling dismissing their lawsuit, which seeks to hold federal officials and the U.S. government accountable for their sons’ torture, arbitrary detention, and ultimate deaths. According to their lawyers, the Center for … Continue reading “Families Sue Over Guantánamo Deaths”

ACLU Ad Challenges Military Commissions

Civil libertarians hit back hard Sunday at reports indicating that the Barack Obama administration is about to cave in to pressure from Congress and local groups in New York City and is not only considering transferring the cases of suspected terrorists to another federal court, but even moving them to the military commission system. The … Continue reading “ACLU Ad Challenges Military Commissions”

Senate Debates Indefinite Detentions

Civil liberties advocates and U.S. constitutional law scholars lost no time in condemning proposed legislation introduced in the Senate Thursday that would hand the government the power to indefinitely detain terrorism suspects without charge and to conduct trials through military commissions only. Typical was the response from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which said … Continue reading “Senate Debates Indefinite Detentions”

Habeas Challenges for Bagram Prisoners

Four men who have been imprisoned for over a year – some for almost two years – are going to U.S. federal court to challenge their detention at the notorious Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The men, who their lawyers say have never engaged in hostilities against the U.S. and are not members of groups … Continue reading “Habeas Challenges for Bagram Prisoners”

Blackwater’s Migraines Multiply

Legal headaches are growing exponentially for the security firm formerly known as Blackwater – once the darling of the military-industrial community. In separate developments, two former employees of the company charged that the security firm committed "systematic fraud" under its contracts with the U.S. State Department in Iraq and Afghanistan; the Iraqi government announced it … Continue reading “Blackwater’s Migraines Multiply”