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Guantanamo detainee Jawad repatriated to Afghanistan

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday that Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohammed Jawad has been repatriated to Afghanistan. Co-counsel for Jawad, US Air Force Major Frakt, hailed his client's release as a victory for justice: Mr. Jawad has finally returned home to celebrate Ramadan with his family after nearly seven long years away. This is a tremendous victory for justice and the rule of law. Although nothing can ever replace those lost years, fortunately this remarkable young man is still young enough to build a life for himself. He is eager to go back to school and complete his education so that he can help others in Afghan society. We're hopeful that the many other innocent men still being illegally detained at Guantanamo will also soon be released.The transfer comes just days after the Obama administration announced its intent to transfer six Guantanamo detainees in the coming weeks. Jawad's release was ordered by Judge Ellen Huvelle of the US District Court for the District of Columbia on July 30, and supported by DOJ lawyers after a judge ordered the suppression of all of Jawad's out-of-court statements that may have been elicited through torture. In May, Jawad's lawyers had asked the Supreme Court of Afghanistan to demand his release from Guantanamo Bay. Jawad, who claims he was only 12 years old when he was initially arrested, had been charged with attempted murder and intentionally causing bodily harm after allegedly throwing a grenade that injured two US soldiers and their interpreter.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on August 24, 2009 (boomark / email).