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US Will Charge 'Combatant' in Military Custody

In policy shift, he will get civilian trial, not military tribunal

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:48 PM CST

(Newser) – Ali al Marri, the only alleged enemy combatant held on US soil, will be charged by the Justice Department, possibly for supplying material support to terrorism, ABC News reports. The move to a civilian criminal trial is an about-face from the policies of the Bush administration, which had insisted on a military tribunal. Al Marri was arrested shortly after the 9/11 attacks on suspicion of aiding al-Qaeda and has been in military custody ever since.

“The decision to charge al Marri is an important step in restoring the rule of law and is what should have happened seven years ago when he was first arrested,” a lawyer for the Qatari national said. Al Marri is also party to an upcoming Supreme Court case challenging his detention.

Ali al Marri.
Ali al Marri.   (AP Photo)
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court.   (AP Photo)
Attorney General Eric Holder.
Attorney General Eric Holder.   (AP Photo)
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It must be made clear once and for all that indefinite military detention of persons arrested in the US is illegal and that this will never happen again. - Jonathan Hafetz, al Marri attorney

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
Feb 26, 2009 11:23 PM CST
DISCO...... DISCO DUCK....as long as he is charged for what he might have done, and if found guilty, bury his body at ground zero
Chudluv
Feb 26, 2009 8:27 PM CST
Well, so much for either proving the President has the power to detain anyone, anywhere in the US without a trial or a day in court. That was very smart of P-OB team to pull him out of limbo before the Supreme Court heard the case; whether or not the he, bush, or any other President from here on out be charge enemy combatant
Guest
Feb 26, 2009 7:06 PM CST
wow, I had that hairdo 20 years ago.

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