Walid addresses ending torture

http://www.wwj.com/pages/619857.php?contentType=4&contentId=641551

ACLU, Citizens Rally for Human Rights

Pat Sweeting, WWJ Newsroom Reporting

Rallies across the country, including Detroit, by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups are focusing on human rights.

Joining in an ACLU rally Tuesday in downtown Detroit was Dauud Waleed[sic], Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Michigan. Waleed[sic], like the ACLU, is calling on U.S .Senator Debbie Stabenow to restore due process and end torture of political detainees.

Waleed[sic] told WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting that, since 9/11, Muslims have been the primary objects of the suspension of habeas corpus as well as being subjected to toucher by the American Government.

"We don't think that these are American values -- suspending due process -- and we certainly don't think that toucher fits in with American values," Waleed[sic] said. He says that if we take on the same tactics as the enemies of America, then we are no better than them.(MORE)

http://www.wdetfm.org/article.php?id=1679

The Michigan American Civil Liberties Union led rallies across the state and in Washington D-C today (Tues) to protect Americans’ due process rights. WDET’s John Notarianni has more.

The ability of a prisoner to question the legality of his detention. . . or habeas corpus. . . is part of the foundation of American Democracy. The 2006 Military Commissions Act. . . however. . . waives that right for suspected enemy combatants in the war on terror. Representative Joe Knollenberg and Senator Debbie Stabenow both voted in favor of that law. The Michigan A-C-L-U is leading a coalition to change their minds. At Senator Stabenow’s office in Detroit. . . Michigan Council on American-Islamic Relations Director Dawud Walid said the suspension of due process isn’t just a problem for Muslims. . . it threatens all Americans.

"This is a coalition of Jews, Muslims, Christians and atheists. We want to remind her of the values of this country and to remind her that all people are entitled to respect and dignity and all are entitled to due process and not to be tortured and treated less than human."(MORE)