Richmond, Va.
In a rebuff to President Bush’s anti-terrorism policies, a federal court ruled this week that the government could not hold a U.S. resident indefinitely without charging him or releasing him. The court ruled on the case of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a Qatari national. He was living legally in the U.S. when he was arrested in December 2001 on suspicion of belonging to an al Qaida “sleeper cell.” Since then, the U.S. has held him in a naval prison in Charleston, S.C., without charging him. But a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court, based in Richmond, said the government could not detain Marri indefinitely simply by declaring him an “enemy combatant.” To do so, the court ruled, “would have disastrous consequences for the Constitution—and the country.” The Justice Department said it would appeal. While the legal process continues, Marri remains in the Charleston brig.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 – 21 NovemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
