Rights of detainees

As leaders of the legal profession in our respective countries, we wish to state our concerns about the continuing detention of non-US "enemy combatants" in Guantánamo Bay (Leaders, August 12). We welcome the supreme court’s ruling on June 28 allowing the detainees to challenge the validity of their detention in US courts. We call on the US to abandon the "review panels" now being held in Guantánamo Bay.

In view of the considerable time that these detainees have been held, without access to lawyers of their choice or their families and reportedly in conditions of physical and psychological duress, the case for them to be able to challenge their detention in a civilian court is stronger than ever. The war on terrorism will not and cannot be won by denying those suspected of terrorism the fundamental right of a fair opportunity to test the evidence against them.

Courtney Able
Acting President, Organsation of East Caribbean States Bar Association

Bertrand Asscherickx
President of the Brussels Bar (Flemish Bar)

John Bigwood
President elect, Brussels Bar (French speaking)

Neil Brailsford
Treasurer, Faculty of Advocates, Scotland

Jeroen Brouwer
President, Dutch Bar Association

Jean-Marie Burguburu
President, Ordre des Avocats a la Cour de Paris (Paris Bar Association)

Edward Chan
S.C.Chairman, Hong Kong Bar Association

Chris Darlow
President, New Zealand Law Society

Francis Gervais
President, Federation of Law Societies of Canada

Bob Gotterson QC
President, Law Council of Australia

Hans Jürgen Hellwig
President CCBE (Council of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Union)

F. William Johnson QC
President, Canadian Bar Association

Stephen Irwin
Chairman, Bar Council of England & Wales

Jaques Leroy
President, Union Internationale des Avocats

Dr. Hans Lühn
Vice President, Deutscher Anwaltverein (German Bar Association)

Ramon Mullerat
Spain

Ken Murphy
Director General, Law Society of Ireland

Edward Nally
President, Law Society of England & Wales

Francis Neate
Vice President, International Bar Association

Patrick Patterson
President, Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations

John Pinkerton
President, Law Society of Northern Ireland

Gordon Salier
President, Law Society of New South Wales, Australia

Dr. Ernst Staehelin
Vice President, Swiss Bar Association

Andrew Stewart
Clerk, Faculty of Advocates, Scotland

Victoria Strong
Vice President, Law Institute of Victoria, Australia

Jan Suyver
Chief Executive, Dutch Bar Association

Norbert Westenberger
Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (German Federal Bar Association)

Thierry Wickers
President, Conference des Batonniers, France

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,13743,1282329,00.html