CAIR Urges Due Process for Guantanamo Bay Terrorism Suspects

September 25, 2003

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On September 25, 2003 Council on American-Islamic Relations released a statement on the American military's "probe into possible security violations at the American prison camp for terrorism suspects in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The statement by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said suspects should be granted due process of law and punished if proven guilty by evidence presented in open court.

CAIR's full statement said:

'If proven, crimes committed by a citizen of any faith should be punished. Islam does not permit treason, disloyalty or the breaking of oaths.

As this investigation goes forward, we urge that all those suspected of

wrongdoing be given their constitutionally-guaranteed right to due process of law, including the presumption of innocence. We also urge that any court proceedings be open to the public and evidence be placed in the public record. These cases must be judged on the evidence, not on the religion or ethnicity of the defendants.'"