header-logo header-logo

07 October 2010 / Ron Cheriyan
Issue: 7436 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights
printer mail-detail

Young blood

The ill-treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay is not a new revelation.

Ron Cheriyan speaks out against a dangerous precedent

The ill-treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay is not a new revelation.The sight of hooded and shackled detainees has become all too familiar and represents the rather ugly face of the war on terror. In spite of this, the alleged ill-treatment and trial of a child soldier has brought even greater shame to the infamous naval base. 

On 12 August 2010, Omar Khadr was put on trial for throwing a hand grenade at a US soldier, which resulted in the soldier’s death. The offence was allegedly committed in Afghanistan during a gun fight involving US Forces. Mr Khadr, a Canadian citizen, was also charged with committing four other war crimes which included attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and spying on US forces in Afghanistan. Two days later, Mr Khadr’s trial was postponed for a month due to the ill-health of his military lawyer—it is now scheduled to start later this month.

Trials

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Cripps—Radius Law

Cripps—Radius Law

Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire

Switalskis—Grimsby

Switalskis—Grimsby

Firm expands with new Grimsby office to serve North East Lincolnshire

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Property team boosted by two solicitor appointments

NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
back-to-top-scroll