USA: Senate votes to strip Guantánamo detainees of right to habeas corpus

On 15 November, the US Senate passed Senator Graham’s amendment to a Defence Bill, removing the right to habeas corpus from Guantánamo Bay detainees. Under the law, which has to be approved by the House of Representatives, the detainees would only be able to challenge in court their status as “enemy combatant”, but not the legality and conditions of their detention. In October, the Senate also adopted Senator McCain’s amendments, prohibiting cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of persons under custody or control of the United States Government.

Graham Amendments McCain Amendments ICJ Statement