AP: Federal judge orders release of Chinese Muslims held at Gitmo. "In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina said it would be wrong for the Bush administration to continue holding the detainees, known as Uighurs, since they are no longer considered enemy combatants. The Uighurs have been in custody for almost seven years and have been cleared for release since 2004, but the government has not been able to find a country willing to take them in. Bush administration lawyers argued Tuesday that Urbina did not have the authority to order the Uighurs released into the United States. Urbina called the detention unlawful saying the Constitution prohibits indefinite imprisonment without charges." Human Rights Watch's Jennifer Daskal says: “The government should not drag its feet, but should immediately release these men from their unlawful confinement at Guantanamo."

Update: NYT story says judge ruled they should be allowed into the United States and rejected government's request for stay of his ruling.

Posted by Laura at October 7, 2008 12:58 PM