Tuesday
May262009
Uyghur Gitmo Detainees Described As "Peaceful Men"
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 10:35AM
A group of 17 Uyghur men are being held at Guantanamo Bay for no reason according to the defense attorney for six of the men.
Uyghurs (Wee-gurs) are a group of Turkic people who live in the areas of Central Asia that is commonly known as East Turkestan. The men were picked up during the Afghan war by bounty hunters and handed over to the U.S. They believe they have been portrayed as dangerous terrorists, however, they have been working to change their image to that of peaceful, innocent men. They have been held at Guantanamo for 6 years.
“What the American public needs to understand about the Uyghurs at Guantanamo is that they have been exonerated by the military,” said Susan Baker Manning, a lawyer for six of the men, at a press conference Tuesday in Washington, D.C., “They were exonerated by the Bush administration and they have been exonerated by the courts. The courts have found that there is no evidence of a link to terrorism. The courts have found that there is no evidence that they are dangerous in any way, shape or form. We cannot in good faith and we cannot Constitutionally continue to imprison these innocent men at Guantanamo," Manning said.
According to Manning, a military translator confused the word “protest” in Uyghur for “fight.” She said the mistranslation may be the reason the men have been held at Guantanamo.
Manning added that she believes the administration is dedicated to the release of these men and it has to happen as soon as possible. There is currently a Supreme Court petition pending for a review of the men’s cases.
Uyghurs (Wee-gurs) are a group of Turkic people who live in the areas of Central Asia that is commonly known as East Turkestan. The men were picked up during the Afghan war by bounty hunters and handed over to the U.S. They believe they have been portrayed as dangerous terrorists, however, they have been working to change their image to that of peaceful, innocent men. They have been held at Guantanamo for 6 years.
“What the American public needs to understand about the Uyghurs at Guantanamo is that they have been exonerated by the military,” said Susan Baker Manning, a lawyer for six of the men, at a press conference Tuesday in Washington, D.C., “They were exonerated by the Bush administration and they have been exonerated by the courts. The courts have found that there is no evidence of a link to terrorism. The courts have found that there is no evidence that they are dangerous in any way, shape or form. We cannot in good faith and we cannot Constitutionally continue to imprison these innocent men at Guantanamo," Manning said.
According to Manning, a military translator confused the word “protest” in Uyghur for “fight.” She said the mistranslation may be the reason the men have been held at Guantanamo.
Manning added that she believes the administration is dedicated to the release of these men and it has to happen as soon as possible. There is currently a Supreme Court petition pending for a review of the men’s cases.
Reader Comments (5)
Courtney Ann Jackson,
Why are you speaking on behalf of terrorists? Like other detainees there, they were picked up for a reason. You need first to ask the question: what they were doing in Afghanistan. They were being trained there to conduct terrorist activities in China. Don’t practice a double standard in fighting terrorism. Also you failed to mention that East Turkestan is a Chinese territory they are trying to curve out for themselves.
"East Turkestan is a Chinese territory" ?
Never heard of that, and current Chinese government has never recognized "East Turkestan" as part of China.
Uyghur,
Yes, you are right. "East Turkestan" is a name that has nothing to do with China, and is a name that Uyghur separatists use for Xinjiang, which part of China.
Thank you for your comments. The appropriate changes have been made.
John,
So, Uyghurs who are separatists or not have no right to call their homeland in their own tongue?!
And if "East Turkestan has nothing to do with China", why does China occupy it?
Xinjinag is part of China, but not East Turkestan?? Your logic is backfired man.