[JURIST] The Boston Globe reported Sunday that the US government has failed to allow Guantanamo Bay detainees [JURIST news archive] access to witnesses even though some of those witnesses were available. The US has told detainees in the past that it was unable to locate witnesses requested by terror suspects, but a Boston Globe reporter was able to locate three of those witnesses within three days. The list of reportedly unavailable witnesses includes well-known Afghan minister of energy, Ismail Khan [BBC profile], and a prisoner currently in US custody.

Defense attorneys claim that the absence of witnesses at hearings has made it more difficult to prove their clients' innocence. Out of the 380 Guantanmo Bay detainees who have had hearings, only 38 managed to be granted release. The Boston Globe has more.