Guantanamo suspect wins UK citizen rights

scotsman: An Australian held as a terrorist suspect at Guantanamo Bay has won a High Court battle for the right to be registered as a British citizen so that he can call on the UK Government to secure his release.

A judge in London ruled that Home Secretary Charles Clarke has "no power in law" to deprive David Hicks of his citizenship "and so he must be registered".

Lawyers for Mr Hicks will now press the Government to make arrangements for him to take the required citizenship oath and pledge.

They will then urge the Home Office to seek his release from the detention camp in Cuba, in the same way it has won freedom for all nine other British citizens held there, followed by his being brought to the UK.

Mr Justice Collins gave the Home Secretary permission to appeal against his judgment, but refused to suspend his decision pending appeal.

Mr Hicks, 30, from Adelaide, is accused by the US authorities of attending terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He has been held at Guantanamo since January 2002 after being picked up by US forces while allegedly fighting alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Mr Hicks faces charges including conspiracy to commit war crimes and aiding and abetting the enemy. He denies all the allegations.

He says the Australian Government has refused to plead for his release and prevent his trial by a US military commission.

By contrast, the British Government considers the US military commissions do not guarantee a fair trial in accordance with international standards and as a result has secured the release from Guantanamo Bay of other British citizens, against whom no action has been taken after their return to the UK. Read more