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Colin Powell: Close Guantanamo and use Federal Courts
Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, who served in both Bush administrations joins the ranks of many retired military leaders who are against military commissions. Watch him tell why in this short video. |
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Keep America Afraid Video Spoofs Cheney Fearmongering
The tide is turning on Liz Cheney and her fearmongering. There has recently been a flood of criticism, from Republicans and Democrats alike, about her ad calling Department of Justice lawyers the "Al Qaeda 7" and the Department of Justice the "Department of Jihad." Human Rights First tried to keep our sense of humor about us by responding with another clip in our Keep America Afraid series. |
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Help Doctors Resist Torture
You might think that doctors wouldn't be roped into torture. Unfortunately we've learned these past few years that some have. In New York there is a bill that would provide protection for those who resist, and help ensure that doctors abide by the law. Human Rights First signed on to a letter supporting this bill. Physicians for Human Rights is running a petition - sign it now! |
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Long-Awaited Report on Torture Memos Released
The findings from the Justice Department ethics report underscore the need for a full accounting for the policies of torture carried out by the Bush Administration. Read press release. |
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Guantanamo Campaign Update
Retired Generals participated in a National Press Club Newsmaker press conference. Press release / Transcript / Read more about the group. Human Rights First participated in a Twitter campaign to #closegitmo. Press release / Follow us. Watch our video - and help us put it on the air. |
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ACA Says America Is Safe
The American Correctional Association today published a Miami Herald op-ed assuring Americans that the "U.S. corrections systems and corrections professionals (both military and civilian) have the ability, training and facilities to handle" terrorists transferred to U.S. soil, including to the Thomson Correction Center in Illinois. Sign our petition to close Guantanamo and use our federal courts. |
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Military Commission Hearings Still Continue at Guantanamo
David Danzig, HRF's Deputy Program Director and Primetime Torture Project Director, is in Guantanamo this week to monitor a pretrial hearing in the case of Mohammed Kamin. |
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HRF Publishes Reports on Detentions in Afghanistan
Human Rights First has conducted extensive research on the capture, detention, and trials of Bagram prisoners, resulting in the following reports: Fixing Bagram: Strengthening Detention Reforms to Align with U.S. Strategic Priorities (2009). Undue Process: An Examination of Detention and Trials of Bagram Detainees in Afghanistan in April 2009 (2009). |
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Human Rights First Gives Statement to Twelfth Session of the Human Rights Council
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. View HRF statement to counter terrorism panel delivered at the Human Rights Council |
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The Gitmo-Thomson Move
The administration's announcement that it will transfer detainees from Guantanamo to the U.S. prison facility in Thomson, Illinois, advances the process of closing Guantanamo, but raises real concerns about indefinite detention without charge. Read Human Rights First's reaction |
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Elisa Massimino Testifies at Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
On Wednesday, December 16, at 10:30 a.m., HRF President and CEO is testifying on U.S. implementation of human rights treaties. |
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Retired Military Leaders Say Closing Guantanamo Ensures National Security
As Attorney General Eric Holder appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee, dozens of distinguished retired military leaders urged Congress to see past the fear-mongering, close the facility, and bring terrorist suspects to trial in federal courts. |
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Bagram Reforms an Improvement, but More Needed
The new procedures for the over 600 detainees being held in Bagram, Afghanistan should be seen as a first step toward additional reforms. Human Rights First has conducted two missions to Afghanistan to study detention conditions and fair trial violations. Read more on Detentions in Afghanistan Commentary Hidden justice: do Obama's detention reforms in Afghanistan go far enough? Key information missing in McChrystal's recipe to reform detentions |
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Still More Military Commissions at Guantanamo
Devon Chaffee, HRF's Advocacy Counsel for the Law & Security program, is in Guantanamo this week to monitor a pretrial hearing in the case of Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi. |
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Updated In Pursuit of Justice: Prosecuting Terrorism report released for 2009
Fear-mongering has dominated the public debate about what should be done with Guantanamo prisoners. Human Rights First has mounted a campaign to inject facts into the debate, spreading the message that our federal courts can handle these cases. Join our campaign! |
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