Why Republicans want a military trial for Osama bin Laden's son in law (+video)
Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, the son-in-law of Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda spokesman, now faces a trial in New York. But some Republicans want Abu Ghaith to face a military trial in Guantanamo. Why?
Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law and Al Qaeda spokesman. Abu Ghaith faces an arraignment Friday in New York.
(AP Photo/Al-Jazeera)
UPDATED: 11:15 a.m.
Skip to next paragraph
Online Director
David Clark Scott leads a small team at CSMonitor.com that’s part Skunkworks, part tech-training, part journalism.
-
In Pictures Bin Laden's terror legacy
Recent posts
-
05.25.13
Clinton leads 2016 poll in Iowa, but Rand Paul is close (+video) -
04.29.13
Chris Christie praises Obama (again): Is he digging himself in deeper? (+video) -
03.15.13
Donald Trump CPAC speech: Is he a Democratic secret agent? (+video) -
03.14.13
Hillary-Michelle in 2016: Awesome or awful? -
03.12.13
The war on Sarah Palin's Christmas book (+video)
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
Some Republicans are livid that Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, the son-in-law of Osama bin Laden, is facing a civilian trial – instead of a military trial.
They see this as a political move intended to build a case for closing the US military prison in Guantanamo, Cuba. President Barack Obama has said that he wants more foreign terror suspects charged in American federal courts, not in military tribunals at Guantanamo.
Abu Ghaith pleaded 'not guilty' in an arraignment in New York City Friday morning. His trial will be a high-profile case, a rare prosecution of a senior Al Qaeda leader in under US civil law.
But Republicans don't want foreign terrorists tried on US soil. They say the legal precedent has been set for "enemy combatants" to be tried at Guantanamo Bay. They are concerned that giving Abu Ghaith a civilian trial will result in lost intelligence.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R of N.H.) told reporters that by bringing Ghaith to New York, he would be entitled to the same rights as a citizen, including a speedy trial and Miranda rights, according to Politico. “We don't want him to come to America before he has been fully interrogated – before he comes to America and hears the words, ‘You have the right to remain silent.’”
Become part of the Monitor community