US embassy in Kyiv shutters after 'significant' air attack threat    Princess Haifa: Saudi Arabia's transformation journey creates promising opportunities for youth    Alfadley at G20: Saudi Arabia focuses on enhancing global cooperation and ensuring food security    Logan Paul accused of misleading fans over crypto investments    Intensive camp kicks off in Riyadh for Saudi participants in WRO 2024    British Airways planes stuck on the tarmac after IT outage at Heathrow    Spain's royals return to flood-hit region weeks after being pelted with mud    Europe's landmark new missile, warship projects get cautious industry thumbs-up    Rafael Nadal: Farewell to the 'King of Clay'    Saudi Arabia voices concern over extremist Israeli statements about West Bank sovereignty and settlements    Indonesia shocks Saudi Arabia with 2-0 victory in AFC Asian Qualifiers    GBB Venture announces the 16th Real Estate Development Summit Saudi Arabia: Luxury Edition    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Theme parks, talent and tech: Saudi Arabia's path to global entertainment leadership    Yemeni Orchestra's captivating performances in Riyadh, showcasing shared cultural legacies    Future of Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract remains undecided, says Saudi Pro League CEO    Salem Al-Dawsari out for three weeks, Ruben Neves to return in January after surgery    GASTAT report: 45.1% of Saudis are overweight    German manufacturers warn of the sector's 'formidable crash'    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Afghan detainees get more rights
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 09 - 2009

The Pentagon has begun putting into place a new program under which hundreds of prisoners being held by the US military in Afghanistan will be given the right to challenge their detentions, a defense official said Sunday.
Prisoners at the Bagram military base are all to be given a US military official to serve as their personal representative and a chance to go before new so-called Detainee Review Boards, to have their cases considered, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to be able to discuss a program that has not been formally announced.
The initiative amounts to the first time prisoners will be able to call witnesses and submit evidence in their defense. There are some 600 detainees at the facility, some who have been held for up to six years.
An order creating the review boards was signed in July by Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. Some military officers serving in Afghanistan have already been assigned to the boards and some who will serve as personal representatives have already been identified, the official said. He declined to say whether any proceedings have already been held.
The guidelines came to light as the Obama administration is reviewing Bush-era detention policies and determining where to make changes.
The proposed rules were given to Congress in mid-July for a 60-day review, according to The Washington Post and New York Times, which reported on the new program in stories late Saturday night on the Web.
Under the rules, the military-assigned representatives, though not lawyers, are charged with gathering evidence and calling witnesses on behalf of the prisoners.
That process is similar to the one used for detainees at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Unlike those prisoners, the Bagram detainees have had no means to challenge their detentions or to hear allegations against them. But the official said the initiative is more like a system used in Iraq than in Guantanamo.


Clic here to read the story from its source.