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Contact: AIUSA media office, 202-509-8194 (Washington, D.C.) Vienna Colucci, Amnesty International USA senior policy advisor, issued the following statement in response to the passage of National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6523) by the U.S. Senate and House. The Act blocks prosecution of Guantanamo detainees in U.S. federal court.
“Today’s vote will only serve to further erode the U.S. government‘s human rights record and hamper the administration’s ability to bring terrorism suspects to justice.
“U.S. federal courts have and can continue to handle the prosecution of terrorism suspects, through fair trials that protect public safety and promote public confidence.
“This law will also effectively prevent the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, prolonging a human rights scandal whose closure national security and foreign policy experts agree is essential to improve U.S. counterterrorism efforts and mend the international standing of the United States.
“The United States should hold fair trials in U.S. federal courts for Guantanamo detainees charged with crimes and release the others.”
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers who campaign for universal human rights from more than 150 countries. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org
Sharon Singh
Media Relations Director
Amnesty International USA
(o) 202.675.8579
(m)202.459.8703
IRSHAD 
December 22, 2010
Human Rights