Print this Email this

Relief for David Hicks but Guantanamo Bay still a human rights vortex

2 April 2007, 04:04PM

David Hicks will be home within weeks after more than five years without justice, however he is just one of over 350 Guantánamo Bay detainees whose fate remains uncertain.

In a deal hammered out over the weekend, Mr Hicks will return home to spend nine months in an Australian prison. A disquieting element of the deal prohibits Mr Hicks from discussing any element of his five year incarceration with the media and a declaration he was never tortured.

"The gag order on David Hicks, preventing him from raising allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, ends any human rights scrutiny of his treatment over the past five years.

"This is particularly concerning in light of the many consistent allegations of torture and other ill-treatment made by other detainees and former detainees, said Katie Wood, Amnesty International Australia's Campaign Coordinator.

Amnesty International Australia maintains that irrespective of the conclusion of the ordeal for David Hicks and his family, the military commissions process is unfair.

Amnesty International's observer to the proceedings, Jumana Musa noted that Mr Hicks' hearing did do not bode well for the 60 to 80 people that the US Government claims it will prosecute under the military commission system.

"The proceedings reaffirm the need to close Guantnamo Bay as a matter of urgency and to end the lawlessness that it has come to symbolise. Governments and institutions around the world have called for the closure of Guantánamo Bay. While it seems that this particular case is winding down, our work is just winding up, said Ms Musa.

Further information

Features and analysis

Alyawarr women

Healthy homelands

An Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is showing the government how to close the health gap.

A pregnant woman in Sierra Leone

Childbirth in Sierra Leone

Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.

cards of support created by Australian children

Harming Children

Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.

These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now

Make an impact

You can make a difference right now. Your action will help to shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.

You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.

Check out what 110,738 people are doing right now to support human rights.

Act now

Stay Informed

Sign up for email updates

Subscribe using RSS

Get Involved

Two Columbian boys smiling and holding their arms out with their thumbs up - a sign of hope

Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.

Donate