Search Results for: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

In the aftermath of the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush established the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to incarcerate and punish those responsible for the deaths of more than 3,000 Americans. At least 780 detainees were held in Guantanamo, several of whom were subject to extreme punishment measures including—but certainly not [...]

From defending detainees held at the US naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba—many of whom were subjected to secret detention and torture by US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials—to confronting American politicians over drone strikes that killed civilians in Pakistan, Alka Pradhan has built her career challenging the legal framework created after former US President [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on Friday threw out plea agreements for three Guantánamo detainees accused of conspiring in the September 11 attacks, clearing the way for the government to pursue the death penalty more than two decades after the tragedy that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The 2–1 ruling holds that [...]

The US Defense Department (DoD) announced on Saturday that it will appeal a military judge’s decision affirming the validity of plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, and two of his co-defendants. This ruling, issued on Wednesday, effectively overturns Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s prior directive to discard the plea [...]

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent decision to revoke the plea agreements for three defendants in the 9/11 case at Guantanamo, including alleged mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), was at once shocking and predictable: shocking that the Defense Secretary would step in deus ex machina at the eleventh hour to scuttle a deal negotiated by the [...]

Almost five years ago I contributed to a Commentary to JURIST entitled, “Guantanamo: An Unnecessary Presidential Legacy,” which focused on former President Barack Obama’s unsuccessful attempt to shut down the Guantanamo prison facility because of missed opportunities, faulty decision making, internal administration opposition and ultimately partisan political division that resulted in an unnecessary presidential legacy.  [...]

The 2021 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the “architect of 9/11,” and the other accused will write an important page in the legal chapter of dealing with terrorism. What is not clear is if this page will solve issues, sustain them, or even create more. Ultimately, these trials will be essential not only for the [...]

The US Navy on Saturday fired the commander of the Guantanamo military prison for “loss of confidence in his ability to command,” according to a Defense Department official who does not have the authority to speak publicly. Navy Rear Adm. John Ring took command of the task force that oversees the prison facilities at Guantanamo. [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Wednesday that Judge Scott Silliman should have recused himself in a case concerning multiple defendants who were charged with aiding in...

US military judge James Pohl refused on Wednesday to allow accused 9/11 conspirator Walid bin Attash to fire his attorneys and refusedto let his defender to quit the case. In response Attash has stated he will boycott...