USA: suspect in New York truck attack must not be sent to Guantánamo

Sayfullo Saipov is criminal suspect and ‘should be treated as such by the US justice system’

Responding to US President Donald Trump saying he would consider sending the man accused of yesterday’s truck attack in New York City, Sayfullo Saipov, to the US detention centre at Guantánamo Bay, Amnesty International USA Security with Human Rights Director, Daphne Eviatar, said:

“It would be a grave mistake to send Sayfullo Saipov to Guantánamo. 

“He’s a criminal suspect and should be treated as such by the US justice system. 

“Guantánamo has become an international symbol of torture, rendition and indefinite detention without charge or trial - it must be closed, not expanded.”

During the 15-plus years the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay has been used as a detention centre, Amnesty has reported extensively on human rights violations at the base. In January this year, Amnesty called on outgoing President Barack Obama to close the detention centre. Amnesty also insisted there “should be no question” of Guantánamo being “normalised” under President Trump.