scienceplease 2 Trustworthy Freedom Fighter
Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 1702
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject: High Value 'AQ' Gitmo Detainee Released |
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704841304575138013356640 710.html
Quote: | A suspected al Qaeda organizer once called "the highest value detainee" held at Guantanamo Bay was ordered released by a federal judge Monday.
Mohamedou Ould Slahi was accused in the 9/11 Commission report of helping recruit Mohammed Atta and other members of the al Qaeda cell in Hamburg, Germany, who took part in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Military prosecutors suspected Mr. Slahi of links to other al Qaeda operations, and considered seeking the death penalty against him while preparing possible charges in 2003 and 2004.
Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted Mr. Slahi's petition for habeas corpus, effectively finding that the government lacked legal grounds to hold him. The order was classified, although the court said it planned to release a redacted public version in coming weeks.
Judge Robertson held four days of closed hearings in the Slahi case last year. Mr. Slahi testified via secure video link from the U.S. military's detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, his attorney said.
"They were considering giving him the death penalty. Now they don't even have enough evidence to pass the test for habeas," said Mr. Slahi's attorney, Nancy Hollander, of Albuquerque, N.M. She said she couldn't comment further because the proceedings were classified. Mr. Slahi is still being held at Guantánamo. |
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