Lawyer for Guantanamo Detainee at UMaine Thursday
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Richard J. Wilson, a professor at American University’s Washington College of Law (WCL), will make a Thursday March 26 University of Maine presentation, “Guantanamo: Reflections from a Lawyer for Detainees.” Sponsored by UMaine’s School of Policy and International Affairs, the talk is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in UMaine’s Buchanan Alumni House.
The founder of WCL’s International Human Rights Law Clinic, Wilson represents one of the suspected terrorists held at the Cuban detention facility in federal court and military proceedings.
The Bush Administration established the Guantanamo prison camp after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. President Obama has recommended closing the facility and there is a good deal of current discussion about how the U.S. and its allies would deal with released detainees.
“The controversy related to Guantanamo has brought into focus a number of important issues related to national security and human rights,” says Prof. Bahman Baktiari, School of Policy and International Affairs director. “By nature of his background and his experience in addressing these issues, Prof. Wilson has unique perspectives to share with us.”
The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending please contact Peter Fandel by email at peter.fandel@umit.maine.edu.