JURIST - Paper Chase: Federal appeals court hears arguments in Guantanamo detainee identification case

[JURIST] A panel of the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Monday in a government appeal against a lower court order [JURIST report] directing the Pentagon to release additional documents revealing the names of Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainees who have either been released or who have alleged abuse [JURIST news archive] by prison guards or other detainees. The order was made pursuant to a lawsuit [JURIST report] brought by the Associated Press [media website] in March 2006 under the Freedom of Information Act [text].

The Pentagon has disclosed the names of present and former Guantanamo detainees in fits and starts since AP first brought its suit. In April 2007, the Pentagon released a list of 558 detainees who had gone through reviews by a first hearing [JURIST report] before a Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) [DOD backgrounder]. In May 2006, under a separate agreement with AP, the Pentagon provided a list of 759 current and former Guantanamo prisoners [JURIST report]. A military spokesman said at the time that the list contained the names of "every single individual detained under DOD control" at Guantanamo since detention operations began in January 2002, but acknowledged in questioning that he "wouldn't know" of any other detainees who might have been held there by the CIA or other US arms "because I can't speak for other agencies." AP has more.

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