U.S. Supreme Court declares trials in Guantánamo prison illegal

WASHINGTON
This Thursday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President George W. Bush does not have the authority to order military trials for detainees in Guantánamo.

The ruling is an admonishment to the Bush government, which has been accused of using the war against terrorism as a pretext for exceeding its constitutional powers, reported AP.

John Paul Stevens, a Supreme Court judge, wrote the ruling which states that such trials would be illegal and in violation of U.S. law and the Geneva Convention.

The case from which the ruling emerged focused on Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni detained on the U.S. base in Cuba who had worked as Osama bin Laden’s bodyguard and driver.

From Paris, the news agency EFE reported that Terry Davis, secretary general of the European Council described the U.S. Supreme Court ruling as "a victory of justice over terror and hypocrisy."

U.S. authorities should take advantage of the ruling to "review their policy, close down Guantánamo and abandon the practice of abusive treatment of prisoners as well as other measures contrary to international human rights regulations," said Davis.

Human rights defenders and Democratic Party legislators are also celebrating the Supreme Court decision, according to EFE.