Fed. Public Defender Talks About Guantanamo Bay

[struggle4progress]

Posted: Jan 23, 2009 07:15 PM
Updated: Jan 23, 2009 08:06 PM
By Carly O'Keefe

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Federal public defender Scott Tilsen says he's seen injustice firsthand in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His client, 28-year-old Mustafa Sohail has been held in the detainment camp since 2003 without charges and according to Tilsen, without cause.

"I went to Kabul, Afghanistan and met the father of the client," Tilsen said. "I held him in my arms as he cried, and I cried. The client I have is the oldest in the family and he had a good job, was supporting his family and his dad was there when he was arrested actually by private security, not the US military or Afghani soldiers, and he hasn't seen him since."

Tilsen says his client is just one of many detainees whose imprisonment violates the basic principles of the United States Constitution.

"In taking these people to Guantanamo and the process available to them was really un-American." Tilsen said. "There are certainly people who are bad and should be there, but there's way too many that shouldn't, and that's a tragedy not only for the lives we've taken, but it's a tragedy for our country" ...

http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=9725054&nav=8H3y0Sdf