US drops charges against 9/11 suspect detained at Guantánamo

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/14/usa.guantanamo

Mr al-Qahtani never made a single statement that was not extracted through torture or the threat of torture," the Centre for Constitutional Rights, which represented al-Qahtani, said.

"The unconscionable techniques used on him are well-documented and were authorised directly by the White House."

The Saudi-born al-Qahtani was brutally interrogated for 48 straight days at Guantánamo in 2002 using a plan approved by former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Charges against him were dismissed "without prejudice", but the Pentagon claims the right to reinstate them at any time and to keep holding him at Guantánamo.

Bush administration lawyers who gave legal approval for the torture of al-Qahtani have exposed themselves to possible war crimes charges, according to UK human rights lawyer Philippe Sands, whose findings were first reported in the Guardian last month.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=204181&mesg_id=204181


Tribunals are continuing for the other five suspects accused of aiding the 9/11 attacks, including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, whom the CIA interrogated using the simulated drowning tactic known as waterboarding.

The dismissed charges against al-Qahtani raise the spectre of more legal setbacks for the Bush administration in the five remaining 9/11 cases. Mohammed's lawyers have said they will challenge evidence against him that was extracted using torturous methods.