The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a potentially historic case on the legal rights of detainees held at a U.S naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
It's the third time the court has looked at Guantanamo Bay, which to many serves as a global symbol of the United States' abuse of power.
The basic legal question the court is to debate Wednesday centres around a centuries-old writ called habeas corpus — the right to challenge one's imprisonment in a fair and impartial court of law.
The U.S. administration has said the military commissions getting underway in Guantanamo Bay are more than adequate in providing a fair trial for those determined "unlawful enemy combatants."
But human rights groups argue that the Guantanamo military commissions are illegal because they do not offer the same protections as U.S. courts.
The Supreme Court has already ruled on Guantanamo Bay twice, both times dealing the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush a severe rebuke.
In 2006, the court declared the established Guantanamo court system illegal, but the White House and Congress quickly established a new military tribunal system following the ruling.
Full story
Is it time to close Guantanamo Bay?
More...
It's the third time the court has looked at Guantanamo Bay, which to many serves as a global symbol of the United States' abuse of power.
The basic legal question the court is to debate Wednesday centres around a centuries-old writ called habeas corpus — the right to challenge one's imprisonment in a fair and impartial court of law.
The U.S. administration has said the military commissions getting underway in Guantanamo Bay are more than adequate in providing a fair trial for those determined "unlawful enemy combatants."
But human rights groups argue that the Guantanamo military commissions are illegal because they do not offer the same protections as U.S. courts.
The Supreme Court has already ruled on Guantanamo Bay twice, both times dealing the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush a severe rebuke.
In 2006, the court declared the established Guantanamo court system illegal, but the White House and Congress quickly established a new military tribunal system following the ruling.
Full story
Is it time to close Guantanamo Bay?
More...