The controversy in Europe over whether to accept detainees from Guantanamo has just been raised a few notches, after the Obama Administration formally asked Germany to accept nine Uyghur men who were wrongfully arrested, held and reportedly tortured at the base – and who if returned to China, would likely go through the same thing all over again – and worse.
In this second of two articles from Die Zeit – one for and one against accepting the former detainees – Mattias Nass argues that it’s not only good policy, but it’s the right thing for Germany to do – after spending years demanding that the base be closed.
For Die Zeit, Mattias Nass writes in part:
“But of course! Reason and humanity demand that we comply with the request of the United States. Barack Obama was in office not 48 hours when he ordered the prison camp at Guantánamo closed within a year. For this he is deserving of the highest recognition – and all the help we can give.
“Finally, after Europeans pushed George W. Bush for years, this institutionalized breach of the law will end. … Whoever’s innocence is proven; whoever survived torture and understandably doesn’t want to make America his new home but cannot return to his original country because they would be threatened with further persecution, they should find acceptance among us.”
By Mattias Nass
Translated By Jonathan Lobsien
May 21, 2009
Germany – Die Zeit – Original Article (German)
But of course! Reason and humanity demand that we comply with the request of the United States. Barack Obama was in office not 48 hours when he ordered the prison camp at Guantánamo closed within a year. For this he is deserving of the highest recognition – and all the help we can give.
Finally, after Europeans pushed George W. Bush for years, this institutionalized breach of the law will end. Angela Merkel put it this way: ‘The use of such prisons is incompatible with my understanding of the rule of law.’ Now, at last, this shameful chapter is to be concluded.
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