 There have been dramatic scenes at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, where a Yemeni detainee has boycotted a military commission set to try him for alleged terror offences.
"No! You can't make me go in there!"
"Leggo the door sill, Ali!" |
Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, who is accused of making propaganda videos for Al Qaeda, unleased a 10-minute diatribe shortly after his preliminary hearing began. The Yemeni said the US was the enemy of Muslims, corrupting their religion and stealing their wealth. Speaking calmly and referring to notes, al-Bahlul said the commission was an illegal military trial, then declared he was boycotting proceedings and removed the headphones through which he was receiving translations.
Al-Bahlul said he should be treated as a prisoner of war and his true day of judgement would come before the tribunal of God. The detainee's military-appointed lawyer then moved to withdraw from the case, a request firmly denied after much legal argument by the commission's presiding officer, Colonel Peter Browback.
"Yes, Counselor! We realize he's a nut. But he's gotta have a lawyer!"
"But why does it have to be me?" |
The hearing has been adjourned to resolve a number of legal issues. The boycotting has come on the fourth anniversary of Guantanamo Bay prison's operation. Yesterday, al-Bahlul's lawyer said his client stood no chance of receiving a fair hearing.
| "Nope. None. Might as well just let him go." |
Al-Bahlul had wanted to represent himself and his military-appointed lawyer, Major Tom Fleener, who called the tribunal a "wholly illegitimate process", said he must not be denied this right. "Mr al-Bahlul's desire to guide his own case is a universally recognised, fundamental right," Major Fleener said. He said he suspected the request had been refused "essentially because it is inconvenient". Under the tribunal rules, defendants are not allowed to be present when evidence that is considered classified is presented. |