Anwat al-Awlaki did not have much of a trial, the American Imam who was involved in planning terrorist operations for El-Qaeda was killed following President Barack Obama's decision to place al-Awlaki on a list of people whom the U.S. authorities were authorized to kill because of terrorist activities.The "targeted killing" of an American citizen was unprecedented in the U.S's War of Terror.
When a drone was deployed in Yemen to search for and kill him, and succeeded in a fatal attack on his life on September 30, 2011. Americans faced a tough question, did they authorize the government to kill U.S. citizens as part of the War on Terror package?
U.S. officials stated that the "imminent threat" international legal standard was used to add al-Awlaki's name to the C.I.A.'s list of people targeted for killing. looking back to Al-Awlaki's previous activities, it is hard to argue that he was indeed an "imminent threat".
But did that mean that he was not entitled to his rights in a free trial being a U.S. citizen? On August 30, 2010, Civil rights groups and Al-Awlaki's father filed a "targeted killing" lawsuit, naming President Barack Obama, CIA Director, and Secretary of Defense as defendants
They sought to require the government to disclose the standards under which U.S. citizens may be "targeted for death", the case was dismissed.
Today general AbdelFatah El-Sisi, commander of the Egyptian army made a plea for egyptians to take to the streets once again on friday the 26th of July, to authorize him to "deal" with terrorists!
Though unnamed by Gen. Sisi, the terrorists that he refered to are generally considered to be supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi who are camping in two squares inside the egyptian capital. the supporters are not entirly what you can call peacful as some of them have and used guns and fire power repeatedly in the last month or so.
However, they are not Al-Awlaki either. most of the supporters are a peacful lot, not in any way can they pass as an "imminent threat".
Gen. Sisi's call to arms is irresponsible and an unprecedented "target killing" to egyptian citizens!
Nobody should authorize him or anybody to target kill egyptians without a trial, Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.
Do Not Authorize Murder!
Hashem Fouad
Cairo, July 2013
When a drone was deployed in Yemen to search for and kill him, and succeeded in a fatal attack on his life on September 30, 2011. Americans faced a tough question, did they authorize the government to kill U.S. citizens as part of the War on Terror package?
U.S. officials stated that the "imminent threat" international legal standard was used to add al-Awlaki's name to the C.I.A.'s list of people targeted for killing. looking back to Al-Awlaki's previous activities, it is hard to argue that he was indeed an "imminent threat".
But did that mean that he was not entitled to his rights in a free trial being a U.S. citizen? On August 30, 2010, Civil rights groups and Al-Awlaki's father filed a "targeted killing" lawsuit, naming President Barack Obama, CIA Director, and Secretary of Defense as defendants
They sought to require the government to disclose the standards under which U.S. citizens may be "targeted for death", the case was dismissed.
Today general AbdelFatah El-Sisi, commander of the Egyptian army made a plea for egyptians to take to the streets once again on friday the 26th of July, to authorize him to "deal" with terrorists!
Though unnamed by Gen. Sisi, the terrorists that he refered to are generally considered to be supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi who are camping in two squares inside the egyptian capital. the supporters are not entirly what you can call peacful as some of them have and used guns and fire power repeatedly in the last month or so.
However, they are not Al-Awlaki either. most of the supporters are a peacful lot, not in any way can they pass as an "imminent threat".
Gen. Sisi's call to arms is irresponsible and an unprecedented "target killing" to egyptian citizens!
Nobody should authorize him or anybody to target kill egyptians without a trial, Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.
Do Not Authorize Murder!
Hashem Fouad
Cairo, July 2013
