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Retired DC schoolteacher to stand trial as Guantanamo prisoner

Submitted by davidswanson on Sat, 2008-05-17 19:32.

By Pete Perry

In nine days, Eve Tetaz, a 76-year old retired D.C. public
schoolteacher, will enter a courthouse in Washington, D.C. and engage
in the legal debate over the fate of America's detention facilities at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The name of Noor Muhammad has never appeared in an American criminal
court. On May 27th, Tetaz will change that.

On that day, she will appear at the Washington, D.C. Superior Court as
Noor Muhammad. Tetaz was arrested, along with 78 others, at the U.S.
Supreme Court on January 11, 2008, protesting the denial of habeas
rights to and the torture of inmates at Guantanamo. Like her fellow
protestors, Tetaz took the name of an inmate during her arrest. (See
the January 13 Washington Post article "Activists Pose as Guantanamo
Prisoners" at link)

Tetaz says she felt compelled to participate in the protest at the
Supreme Court because detainees are being tortured at Guantanamo.
"Torture is a terrible crime and sin against humanity," she said.

Thirty-four of the Supreme Court demonstrators have pleaded "not
guilty" to charges of "unlawful free speech" and "causing a harangue"
at the Court on January 11. They will continue their protest during
the trial itself, entering the names of the Guantanamo inmates and
justifying their acts as defenses of the U.S. Constitution,
international law, and human rights. They will call expert witnesses
— from lawyers of the detainees to U.S. Judge Advocate Generals
critical of detention policies — to document the abuses at Guantanamo.

Other Washington Metro area residents appearing in court, along with
Tetaz and others, include Art Laffin, Malachy Kilbride, and David
Barrows.

At 7:45 am on Tuesday, May 27, those facing trial will walk in orange
jumpsuits and black hoods bearing the names of Guantanamo inmates from
the U.S. Supreme Court (Maryland Avenue and First Street) to the D.C.
Superior Court (Carl Moultrie Court House, 500 Indiana, Ave NW), where
their trial will take place. At 8:30 am, a press conference will begin
outside the Municipal Court. Individuals facing trial, as well as
expert witnesses, will address the media. The trial will begin at 9
am. The press is invited to attend the proceedings.

We'd love to put you in touch with Eve Tetaz, who will go on trial
later this month, and talk to you about their action in the broader
context of the national movement to shut down the facilities at
Guantanamo.

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We will continue our fight for Justice

Submitted by lonevet2008joe on Sun, 2008-05-18 01:17.

Know my tears will be with you during your trial, may only good things happen to all of you. Many of us in Portland, Oregon have and will be arrested in coming months. America is arresting and trying the peacemakers; the criminals in the White House and Congress are allowed to continue their destruction of “Our” Constitution. I wish I could stand in your place and take away some of the pain. We will be with you on the 27th of May in spirit---feel our love and respect for your actions.

Joe Walsh--lone vet
Candidate for the US House, Dist 3
Oregon

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And I hope to be there in body

Submitted by LaFajita on Sun, 2008-05-18 03:47.

Once in awhile, you cross paths with a real hero, and you feel your life transformed. I gave Evie a ride one day, and it has turned into quite a journey for me.

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