(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/11/22) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today marked the 20th anniversary of the George W. Bush administration opening the unconstitutional U.S. military detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by once again calling on President Joe Biden and Congress to end indefinite detention and to close this illegal facility.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“For twenty years, our government has illegally operated a military detention camp that has indefinitely detained prisoners without charge or trial at Guantanamo, Cuba.
“The Guantanamo prison camp was designed to detain and try foreign terrorism suspects outside of the reach of the Constitution to deny detainees their due process rights or the expectation of a fair trial.
“While 780 individuals have been detained at the Guantánamo Bay prison over the past 20 years, only 0.3% have been convicted, and the vast majority have been released.
“With 39 men remaining at Guantanamo, our government has a responsibility to either fairly charge and try these men within the U.S. judicial system or to release them.
“Guantanamo remains a stain on the United States human rights record that must be addressed by the Biden administration and no longer ignored by Congress.
“CAIR calls on President Biden and Congress to end indefinite detention at Guantanamo and close this forever prison once and for all.”
For more information on the unconstitutional military camp at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, CAIR recommends visiting Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative website: GUANTÁNAMO BAY MILITARY PRISON: NARRATIVES AND NUMBERS.
Last July, CAIR welcomed the release of a Guantanamo detainee Abdul Latif Nasser, who was imprisoned at the facility for 19 years without a charge.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Release of Guantanamo Detainee After 19 Years of Detention Without Charge
CAIR has repeatedly called for the closure of Guantanamo.
SEE: A Prayer to Close Guantanamo
Rally: Join CAIR on May 23 Global Day of Action to Close Guantanamo and End Indefinite Detention
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]