William Fisher

William Fisher writes for Inter Press Service.

Afghan Prisoners Challenge Indefinite Detention

While the unsuccessful attempt to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day captured the headlines and put major political roadblocks in the path of prisoner release from Guantanamo Bay, the courts – far more quietly – continued to play a major role in influencing the detention issue. That influence was demonstrated by two cases … Continue reading “Afghan Prisoners Challenge Indefinite Detention”

Yemeni Detainees Caught in Bomb Backlash

In the wake of the failed attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day, legal experts and human rights advocates are pushing back against calls from politicians to halt the planned release of prisoners from Guantánamo Bay to their home country, Yemen. The would-be bomber, a 23-year-old Nigerian, was disarmed and taken down … Continue reading “Yemeni Detainees Caught in Bomb Backlash”

The Guantánamo Shell Game?

Human and rights advocates and members of the Republican Party found unusual common ground Monday. Both registered strong objections to the announcement that the Barack Obama administration would be transferring detainees from Guantánamo to a maximum security prison in Illinois. But their reasons were starkly different. The Weekly Standard, a conservative political publication and a … Continue reading “The Guantánamo Shell Game?”

US: Guantanamo Prisoners Not ‘Persons’

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal Monday to review a lower court’s dismissal of a case brought by four British former Guantanamo prisoners against former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the detainees’ lawyers charged Tuesday that the country’s highest court evidently believes that "torture and religious humiliation are permissible tools for a government … Continue reading “US: Guantanamo Prisoners Not ‘Persons’”

High Court to Hear PATRIOT Act Challenge

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging a law that critics say treats human rights advocates as criminal terrorists, and threatens them with 15 years in prison for advocating nonviolent means to resolve disputes. The case is known as Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, and is the first case to challenge … Continue reading “High Court to Hear PATRIOT Act Challenge”

Obama Quietly Backs PATRIOT Act Provisions

With the health care debate preoccupying the mainstream media, it has gone virtually unreported that the Barack Obama administration is quietly supporting renewal of provisions of the George W. Bush-era USA PATRIOT Act that civil libertarians say infringe on basic freedoms. And it is reportedly doing so over the objections of some prominent Democrats. When … Continue reading “Obama Quietly Backs PATRIOT Act Provisions”

‘New’ Military Courts Still Lack Basic Safeguards

While conservatives complain about Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four other terror suspects from Guantánamo coming to New York for trial, many legal experts and human rights groups are being equally outspoken in their criticism of the "new and improved" military commissions designated to try five other detainees. And some are particularly incensed that Omar Khadr, … Continue reading “‘New’ Military Courts Still Lack Basic Safeguards”

Decision on 9/11 Trials Sparks Praise, Anger

The U.S. government’s decision to bring five high-profile terror suspects to the United States to face trials in a civilian court has drawn reactions ranging from praise to condemnation to confusion. While human rights advocates are generally applauding the decision to conduct trials in federal court in New York, they are at the same time … Continue reading “Decision on 9/11 Trials Sparks Praise, Anger”

Rendition Redux?

On the heels of a federal appeals court ruling that only the U.S. Congress and the executive branch of government — not the courts — can interfere with government-sponsored "extraordinary rendition," a U.S. citizen from New Jersey is asking another court to tell the government it wasn’t okay to secretly imprison and abuse him in … Continue reading “Rendition Redux?”

Rights Groups: Obama’s Terrorism Courts ‘Fatally Flawed’

Human rights advocates and legal scholars are voicing sharp criticism of President Barack Obama’s revisions to the George W. Bush administration’s Military Commissions Act of 2006, characterizing them as unnecessary and saying the new law will lead to further delays and create a system of "second-class justice." One powerful advocacy group, the American Civil Liberties … Continue reading “Rights Groups: Obama’s Terrorism Courts ‘Fatally Flawed’”