STATEMENT FROM ELISA MASSIMINO
Director of the Washington,
DC office of Human Rights First 

ON THE INDICTMENT OF ZACARIAS MOUSSAOUI 

Today the U.S. Department of Justice announced a six-count indictment in federal district court in Virginia against French citizen Zacarias Moussaoui for conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related crimes. This indictment is a welcome signal that the Administration will not forsake the United States criminal justice system even for those suspected of the closest involvement in the September 11th attacks. 

The indictment is a positive step by the Bush Administration towards making good on its pledge to use military commissions sparingly. 

The decision to try Moussaoui in federal court settles the debate about whether suspected terrorists in the US will be tried under the President's Military Order.  The nature of Moussaoui's indictment makes it hard to imagine a case that could justify the use of military courts inside the United States. 

The U.S. criminal justice system, which has already shown itself capable of dealing with complex terrorist cases, is the proper venue for trying suspects found in or extradited to the United States.  This approach is one that we believe best serves long-term U.S. interests and upholds American’s core values of due process.