More hypocrisy at Guantanamo (al-Ghizzawi’s case)

“Bates’ opinion ignores the underlying injustice that pervades al-Ghizzawi’s case and Guantánamo generally: The US has imprisoned him for more than five years without charge or a fair hearing. Worse, after the Defense Department’s status review tribunal initially found al-Ghizzawi was not an “enemy combatant,” the Defense Department ordered a “do-over.” (Where lo and behold, the tribunal found al-Ghizzawi an “enemy combatant.”) So, if, al-Ghizzawi is distrustful of Guantánamo’s medical staff, as Bates noted, he has good reason: he knows the status review tribunals are a sham and the results rigged. ”

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/convictions/archive/2008/04/15/more-hypocrisy-at-guantanamo.aspx

UPDATE ON URGENT action from Mr. al-Ghizzawi’s attorney

NEW URGENT ACTIONS!! from Attorney Candace Gorman:
1. Sign the online petition…..

Mr. al-Ghizzawi’s attorney thanks everyone who wrote letters and signed the online petition. She requests  no more petitioning Judge John Bates on her client’s behalf, as he has ruled (unfavorably) on his case.

http://gtmodocuments.blogspot.com/2008/04/his-own-fault.html

al-Ghizzawi blamed for his poor medical condition after 5yr+ detention

“Judge Bates entered the order yesterday… I know I shouldn’t be surprised that the judge continues to believe everything the government says and refuses to allow us to even see the medical records… but I am. In fact one would think that even if the judge was not going to allow Al-GHizzawi his records… that he would ask to see them himself to clarify the misstatments of the government… sigh…The judge actually goes so far as to blame Al-Ghizzawi for his health problems and trivializes his condition….”

from the blog of attorney H. Candace Gordon
http://gtmoblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/no-medical-care-for-al-ghizzawi.html

See also: A Sickening Truth at Guantánamo

A sickening truth at Guantánamo

A gravely ill detainee I represent, never charged with a crime, has been neglected by military doctors. Will he be the next to die inside the notorious prison?

By H. Candace Gorman

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/03/14/sick_in_guantanamo/

Good Friday

Good Friday

Today, like many Christians, I pause between noon and 3:00 to remember the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. However, when I contemplate the crucified Jesus, I see the face of Guantánamo detainee #654.

An innocent shopkeeper, he was betrayed to the Northern Alliance by his neighbors for 5,000 pieces of silver and subsequently handed over to US forces. He was transported to Guatanámo Bay,where the members of his Combatant Status Review Tribunal washed their hands of him, though they found that he had committed no prosecutable offense.

His wrists and ankles bleed from the shackles that cut into his skin when his led from one part of Camp 6 to another. The biting pain in his side emanates from his liver, infected with hepatitis B. Afflicted with tuberculosis as well, yet denied proper medical attention, his cell has become his living tomb.

This Good Friday, the crucified Jesus has the face of Abdel Hamid Al-Ghizzawi.