The White House released today a plan for the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Yasmine Taeb, FCNL’s lobbyist on human rights and civil liberties made the following statement.
“The detention center at Guantanamo Bay has continued to serve as a powerful recruitment tool for violent extremists, and for more than fourteen years has served as an international symbol for torture and injustice. Not only has Guantanamo hurt our standing in the international community, but operating the facility costs nearly $400 million dollars per year. The Friends Committee on National Legislation welcomes the administration’s plan for its closure as a step toward closing this dark chapter in American history.
“While we welcome the President’s plan to close Guantanamo, we oppose simply moving the facility to the U.S. and continued and indefinite detention without charge or trial. As a country committed to the rule of law, we must preserve human rights and civil liberties for all, including for these detainees.”
