2007 Archives | Page 19 of 20 | International Commission of Jurists

USA: Domestic surveillance programme to be overseen by FISA Court

Jan 17, 2007

On 17 January, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the administration would, from now on, submit all domestic surveillance requests to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) for review and approval, in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence...

USA: Court upholds provisions removing habeas corpus of the Military Commissions Act

Jan 17, 2007

On 13 December, a district court judge upheld certain provisions of the Military Commissions Act that removed the statutory right of foreigners designated as “unlawful enemy combatants” to challenge the legality of their detention before US civilian courts. The Court...

USA: Pentagon releases new “Manual for Military Commissions”

Jan 17, 2007

On 18 January, the Department of Defense presented to Congress its Manual outlining rules for trial of terrorist suspects by military commissions, to be conducted under the Military Commissions Act (MCA) of 2006. Human rights organizations criticized the new Manual...

Morocco: Court of Appeals acquits five ex-Guantánamo detainees

Jan 17, 2007

On 20 January, a Court of Appeal acquitted five Moroccans previously held at the Guantánamo Bay detention centre. They had been charged with offences that included belonging to a criminal organization and refusing to denounce crimes against state security. Press...

Egypt: Government to hold referendum to end 26-year old state of emergency

Jan 17, 2007

On 4 December, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif announced that the Egyptian Government planned to hold a Constitutional referendum in summer 2007 on whether to replace the current state of emergency with anti-terrorism legislation. The state of emergency has been in place...