GTMO lawyer interviewed

The Talking Dog scores an exclusive interview with Martha Rayner, Clinical Associate Professor of Law and director of the International Justice Clinic at Fordham University.

Over the years, Rayner's clinic has represented five GTMO detainees. Three of of these men have been handed over to the authorities in their home countries, and two remain in US custody.

One client, Sanad Al-Kazimi has a pending habeas corpus case against the US government.

"[H]e respectfully requests that the court order our government to come forward in an open court and establish the factual basis for his imprisonment and the legal basis—the rule of law that allows indefinite imprisonment under the circumstances that brought Sanad to Guantanamo," Rayner told The Talking Dog.

Rayner hopes that another client, Mr. Al Shimrani, will be transferred back to Saudi Arabia from GTMO in the near future through the Saudi repatriation program. Al Shimrani also has a habeas petition in the works. After several years in captivity he has yet to be charged with any crime.

A third client ended up spending nearly 3 of his 6 years at GTMO after the US determined he was eligible for a transfer. He got caught up in red tape about whether he would be repatriated to Saudi Arabia or Yemen.

The TD interview also touches on extraordinary rendition, the "war on terror" in the media, and the prospects for a US exit strategy from GTMO.

Comments

[herbert browne]

I admire your even tone, when outlining these cases. I can only feel cramps beginning to contract- in mind & body- whenever this subject comes up... It's kind of like my standard reaction to hearing the voice of the president, ie if I listen at all I begin to yell (at the world in my vicinity, generally)... not a good sign, obviously, however cathartic it may be. I admire the dispassionate voices all the more BECAUSE I'm losing it, myself... and losing it is... losing- our ideals, as a nation, and our reputation (and, by that, so much more hopelessness is spread in the world) auggghh ^..^