Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0200

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Full Text of SR0200 95th General Assembly

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SR0200 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0200 LRB095 12234 KXB 36628 r

1 SENATE RESOLUTION

2     WHEREAS, The fight against Terrorism requires the United
3 States to place high priority on the security of our borders;
4 and

5     WHEREAS, The drafters of the United States Constitution
6 emphasized their commitment to the principles of justice,
7 respect for life and dignity, and fair legal proceedings; and

8     WHEREAS, One of these principles is Habeas Corpus, the
9 legal proceeding that allows prisoners to challenge the
10 legality of their detention; and

11     WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson described the Writ of Habeas
12 Corpus as one of the most essential components of a free
13 nation; and

14     WHEREAS, Nearly 400 men are currently held without charge
15 at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay without a right to
16 Habeas Corpus; and

17     WHEREAS, It is contrary to the principles of justice
18 embodied in the Constitution to hold individuals without
19 charge, for an indefinite amount of time, without access to
20 fair trial and right to Habeas Corpus; and

SR0200 - 2 - LRB095 12234 KXB 36628 r

1     WHEREAS, Not allowing individuals in Guantanamo to
2 challenge the legality and conditions of their detention has
3 undermined the moral authority of the United States as a
4 champion of the rule of law and human rights; and

5     WHEREAS, It is therefore just that the United States
6 Congress restore Habeas Corpus and respect international law;
7 and

8     WHEREAS, It is only fitting for the great State of Illinois
9 as a member of the United States to call on Congress to
10 implement justice, respect for human rights, respect for human
11 dignity, and fair legal proceedings and restore Habeas Corpus
12 to non-citizens who have been labeled unlawful enemy
13 combatants; therefore, be it

14     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
15 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we call on Congress to
16 restore habeas corpus for anyone in United States custody, and
17 in so doing restore United States moral authority as a leading
18 proponent of human rights and the rule of law; and be it
19 further

20     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 delivered to the Human Rights Watch.

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