US Federal Court will not let 17 Turkic Muslim from Gitmo to the US

Soch Mel

This past wednesday, the federal court ruled that the 17 Turkic Muslims who were cleared to be release must now stay at the prison. As we know, Obama is pledging to quickly shut down the prison and set the prisoners not accused of a crime free. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C Circuit believes that the judge who made the ruling back in November 2008 when too far ordering US entry of these men.

This three-judge panel suggested that the detainees may be able to seek entry by applying to the Homeland Security Department who administers US immigration laws. The court said right out that these detainees have "no constitutional right to immediate freedom after being held in custody at the facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without charges for nearly seven years."

Attorney Emi MacLean stated it Obama is really sincere about making the changes to Gitmo, he should release these uncharged prisoners and allow them entry into the US. So far, the Obama administration has been very silent on where many of the other uncharged prisoners are being held, or who would take them if they are released.

Beijing has warned other nations to not accept the men if they cannot enter the US. The issue with the Uighurs is that some are wanting independence for Xinjiang; as we know from other countries and China's current policy, these freedom fighters that some may called can also be labeled terrorists by the state in power.

As of now these men have no where to go. At least 20% of the men being held at Gitmo could possibly face torture or worse if returned back to their home country. It's time for Obama to take some sort of action that is clear and precise; let us see if he stands up for human rights.

And just today, Beijing is urging that the detainees be return to China.

"Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the men belong to a violent separatist group and would be dealt with according to Chinese law, which forbids torture."

"We are against any country accepting these people."

These two quotes are unsettling in that trusting China won't torture these men seems unlikely. They also claim that these men belong to a violent separatist group, but I don't know enough background information to even suggest that claim. What may happen is that the US will give them up so that the relation between China and the US continue to grow.

Personally, I love Chinese history and culture, but when it comes to politics there is a different ideology in place where it would to us Westerners seem cruel. According to some Chinese thinking, there is a logical reasoning for their actions. Still I have not seen a country who treats its minorities fairly and just, not even the US.