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HR0321 |
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LRB095 11946 KXB 35290 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The fight against Terrorism requires the United |
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| States to place high priority on the security of our borders; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, The drafters of the United States Constitution |
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| emphasized their commitment to the principles of justice, |
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| respect for life and dignity, and fair legal proceedings; and
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| WHEREAS, One of these principles is Habeas Corpus, the |
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| legal proceeding that allows prisoners to challenge the |
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| legality of their detention; and
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| WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson described the Writ of Habeas |
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| Corpus as one of the most essential components of a free |
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| nation; and
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| WHEREAS, Nearly 400 men are currently held without charge |
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| at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay without a right to |
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| Habeas Corpus; and
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| WHEREAS, It is contrary to the principles of justice |
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| embodied in the Constitution to hold individuals without |
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| charge, for an indefinite amount of time, without access to |
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| fair trial and right to Habeas Corpus; and
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HR0321 |
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LRB095 11946 KXB 35290 r |
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| WHEREAS, Not allowing individuals in Guantanamo to |
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| challenge the legality and conditions of their detention has |
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| undermined the moral authority of the United States as a |
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| champion of the rule of law and human rights; and
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| WHEREAS,
It is therefore just that the United States |
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| Congress restore Habeas Corpus and respect international law; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, It is only fitting for the great State of Illinois |
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| as a member of the United States to call on Congress to |
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| implement justice, respect for human rights, respect for human |
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| dignity, and fair legal proceedings and restore Habeas Corpus |
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| to non-citizens who have been labeled unlawful enemy |
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| combatants; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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| NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we |
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| call on Congress to restore habeas corpus for anyone in United |
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| States custody, and in so doing restore United States moral |
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| authority as a leading proponent of human rights and the rule |
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| of law; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
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| delivered to the Human Rights Watch.
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