A fair trail for David Hicks

David Hicks was captured 5 years ago today (9 December 2001) near Kunduz in Afghanistan by the Northern Alliance.

The Northern Alliance allegedly subjected David Hicks to ill-treatment before handing him to the US authorities. After he was interrogated by US and Australian officials onboard the USS Peleliu, he was transported to Guantánamo Bay in January 2002.

The camp in Guantanamo Bay is a legal black hole designed to put detainees outside the rule of law and the US Administration beyond the rule of law. It must be shut down. The detainees held there should be either released or, if they are suspected of having committed a recognisably criminal offence, they should be charged immediately and tried in fair proceedings.

David Hicks should be brought home and tried in Australia and if the Australian justice system can find no ground or evidence to prosecute him, then David Hicks must be released. It is that simple.

Email John Howard and let him know what you think.