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June 29, 2009

Justice Dept.: Gitmo Prisoners Have Some Constitutional Rights
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The Justice Department has reportedly determined foreign prisoners enjoy
at least some constitutional rights if tried by military commissions in
the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Obama
administration has been advised that prisoners are entitled to
protections from statements against them obtained through coercive
interrogation. The opinion was delivered by the Justice Department’s
Office of Legal Counsel last month. It suggests military tribunal
convictions could be overturned if based on statements obtained through
coercion.



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