12 August 2004

The Law Society
113 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1PL
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk
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World's legal leaders sign international protest on Guantanamo Bay

World's legal leaders sign international protest on Guantanamo Bay

The President of the Law Society and Chairman of the Bar today joined 26
other international legal
leaders to condemn the continuing detention of non-US "enemy combatants" in
Guantanamo Bay

In letters being submitted for publication to major news outlets
internationally, the leaders say that they welcome the US Supreme Court
ruling on 28 June allowing the detainees to challenge the validity of their
detention in US courts. The leaders call on the US authorities to abandon
the "review panels" now being held in Guantanamo Bay.

The lawyers' leaders point out that the detainees have been held for a long
time without access to lawyers
of their choice, or family contacts, and in conditions of physical and
psychological duress. They conclude that the case for the detainees to be
able to challenge their detention in a civilian court is stronger than ever.

Edward Nally, Law Society President, says;

"The war on terrorism cannot be won by denying those suspected of terrorism
the opportunity to have the evidence against them tested fairly in
accordance with fundamental principles of common law."

Stephen Irwin QC, Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales, says;

"In view of the considerable time that these detainees have been held,
without access to lawyers of their choice or their families and reportedly
in conditions of physical and psychological duress, the case for them to be
able to challenge their detention in a civilian court is stronger than
ever."

Copy of letter

As leaders of the legal profession in our respective countries, we wish to
state our concerns about the continuing detention of non-US "enemy
combatants" in Guantanamo Bay.

We welcome the Supreme Court's ruling on 28 June allowing the detainees to
challenge the validity of their detention in US courts. We call on the US
authorities to abandon the "review panels" now being held in Guantanamo Bay.

In view of the considerable time that these detainees have been held,
without access to lawyers of their choice or their families and reportedly
in conditions of physical and psychological duress, the case for them to be
able to challenge their detention in a civilian court is stronger than ever.

The war on terrorism will not and cannot be won by denying those suspected
of terrorism the fundamental right of a fair opportunity to test the
evidence against them.

Courtney Able
Acting President, Organsation of East Caribbean States Bar Association

Bertrand Asscherickx
President of the Brussels Bar (Flemish Bar)

John Bigwood
President elect, Brussels Bar (French speaking)

Neil Brailsford
Treasurer, Faculty of Advocates, Scotland

Jeroen Brouwer
President, Dutch Bar Association

Jean - Marie Burguburu
President, Ordre des Avocats a la Cour de Paris (Paris Bar Association)

Edward Chan S.C.
Chairman, Hong Kong Bar Association

Chris Darlow
President, New Zealand Law Society

Francis Gervais
President, Federation of Law Societies of Canada

Bob Gotterson QC
President, Law Council of Australia

Hans Jürgen Hellwig
President
CCBE (Council of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Union)

F. William Johnson QC
President, Canadian Bar Association

Stephen Irwin QC
Chairman, Bar Council of England & Wales

Jaques Leroy
President, Union Internationale des Avocats

Dr. Hans Lühn
Vice President, DeutscherAnwaltVerein (German Bar Association)

Ramon Mullerat
Spain

Ken Murphy
Director General, Law Society of Ireland

Edward Nally
President, Law Society of England & Wales

Francis Neate
Vice President, International Bar Association

Patrick Patterson
President, Organisation of Commnwealh Carribean Bar Associations

John Pinkerton
President, Law Society of Northern Ireland

Gordon Salier
President, Law Society of New South Wales, Australia

Dr. Ernst Staehelin
Vice President, Swiss Bar Association

Andrew Stewart
Clerk, Faculty of Advocates, Scotland

Victoria Strong
Vice President, Law Institute of Victoria, Australia

Jan Suyver
Chief Executive, Dutch Bar Association

Norbert Westenberger
Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (German Federal Bar Association)

Thierry Wickers
President, Conference des Batonniers, France

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