Offering relief from the death penalty only to later reinstate it is clearly cruel and unusual punishment

Washington, D.C. The men who planned and executed the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, where I once worked, are undeniably evil.

However, we question the decision to keep them in Guantánamo Bay, where they are deprived of access to our fair judicial system.

We also question the use of waterboarding and other torture methods at Guantánamo Bay to extract confessions, as these practices violate the Geneva Convention.

Furthermore, we are concerned about Lloyd Austin’s recent decision to cancel a pre-deal by a subordinate, regardless of whether we agree with the pre-deal itself. Offering relief from the death penalty only to later reinstate it is clearly cruel and unusual punishment.

We believe this decision was or certainly looks like it was influenced by political pressure rather than a genuine pursuit of justice.

These men should be held in a federal penitentiary for the rest of their lives. However, the torture they have endured does not align with the principles of justice in the United States. Their situation and cases must be addressed justly and without delay.

Questioning Justice: Ethics of Guantánamo Torture (Aug. 3, 2024)

#GuantanamoBay, #JusticeForAll, #EndTorture

Tags: Ethics, Judicial System, Political Pressure, Torture, Geneva Convention, Guantánamo Bay, September 11, Human Rights