UN human rights experts reiterate concern at Guantánamo Bay detainees

In a press release dated 4 February, several UN human rights experts expressed their serious concern at the continuing situation of the persons detained at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The experts questioned the legal basis for holding these individuals in detention, the independence of the tribunals in charge of reviewing the status of the detainees, the fairness of the proceedings and the detainees’ lack of access to counsel and evidence. The experts expressed their concern at the allegations of torture at the Base, the conditions of detention in solitary confinement and the uncertainty as to whether criminal charges will be brought against the detainees.