TERRORISM suspects held at the US detention camp at Gauntanamo Bay, Cuba, must be guaranteed a free, fair and public trial and be granted legal representation, MEPs will demand at a special hearing into human rights violations at the camp tomorrow (September 30th).
"Taliban and Al'Queda suspects, like everyone else, must receive - and be seen to receive - justice. That means a fair trial," said London MEP Jean Lambert.
"International human rights law makes quite clear that every defendant is entitled to a fair and public hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal - and these are the very human rights the US claims it seeks to uphold in its ongoing military occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq" said Mrs Lambert, Green Euro-MP for London and a member of the parliament's civil liberties committee.
"Yet the US plans to try Gauntanamo Bay inmates in closed military tribunals, with no jury and the defendants granted no legal representation, despite the likely application of the death penalty to those convicted."
Though British detainees are alleged to have been offered exemption from possible excution in exchange for the UK Government's tacit approval for the ongoing denial of justice to Guantanamo inmates, MEPs will argue such a deal undermines the principle of universal human rights.
"Bilateral agreements are no substitute for international human rights law," said Mrs Lambert.
The hearing, which takes place at the European Parliament in Brussels tomorrow
(September 30th), will be open to the public, and will be addressed by lawyers
and family members of Gauntanamo suspects with EU citizenship, including Amzat
Begg, father of British detainee Moazzem Begg.
Their reports will be followed by a cross-party debate chaired by Stephen Jacobi, director of UK-based Fair Trials Abroad.
Mrs Lambert is one of a number of MEPs who have demanded access to Guantanamo Bay to monitor detainees' conditions and investigate claims of human rights abuses.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The public hearing takes place between 2.30 and 7pm at the European Parliament,
Brussels, Room PHS 4B 01 tomorrow (Tuesday, September 30th).
Journalists are welcome to attend - for an agenda or further information contact
Ben Duncan
"Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by
an independent and impartial tribunal" - Universal Declaration of Human
Rights,
Article 10
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973
823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk