Today also marks the beginning of the Military Commission proceedings for Guantánamo detainee Omar Khadr, who has been in U.S. custody since the age of 15. While the U.S. ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict in 2002, which Khadr should be protected by, the military commission trial completely fails this international obligation. What’s more is that some of Khadr’s statements may have been made while he was being tortured. Just yesterday, his statements have been ruled admissible as the prosecution has maintained in its legal filings that “the accused was not tortured; nor subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”
Now’s your chance to get your questions answered on the Obama administration’s plans to close Guantánamo, or, even more generally, U.S. policy on torture, terrorism or detainment.
Join Amnesty International today for a Tweet Chat to discuss Khadr’s case and that of other detainees at Guantanamo.
WHEN: Today Tuesday, August 10th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST
WHERE: Follow Tom on Twitter @TomAtAmnesty
HOW: Submit questions on Twitter any time from now through August 10th using hashtag #AskAI. Example: How else should the U.S. gain intelligence re: terrorism plots w/o using torture? #askai