BRIEF: JURY SELECTED FOR GUANTANAMO TRIAL

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba- Jury selection began today for the case of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Osama Bin Laden’s driver. This will be the first U.S. war crimes tribunal since World War Two. Hamdan is charged with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism. If convicted, he will face life in prison.
Prosecutors contend Hamdan was in al Qaeda’s inner circle, participated in al-Qaeda training camps and transported weapons that were used to attack U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Defense attorneys admit that Hamdan worked for bin Laden but say that he was a minor employee.
Hamdan himself told the court in pretrial hearings that he was beaten, threatened with death, deprived of sleep before interrogations and sexually humiliated by an interrogator in violation of Muslim sexual taboos.
Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Program, said the fact that the military can use hearsay evidence and statements obtained through harsh interrogation techniques are examples of how the system is flawed. Dakwar stated, "We know that the inherent problems are not going to allow this to produce a fair trial. It will only make it a show trial.”
Under the rules established by the Military Commissions Act of 2006, at least five military officers will make up the jury, and a two-thirds vote is required for a guilty verdict. A three-fourths vote is required for sentences that are longer than 10 years.

For more information, please see:
USA Today- Jury Selection Today in Gitmo Trial- 20 July 2008

Reuters- Bin Laden Driver Faces First Guantanamo Trial- 20 July 2008