Latest in Case Coverage: Al-Iraqi Case
The military commission trying alleged al-Qaeda commander Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi reconvened Aug. 21-28. You can find previous Lawfare coverage here and here.
The military commission trying alleged al-Qaeda commander Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi reconvened from Jan. 7-14, after a break in proceedings beginning in November 2018. The bulk of the session focused on Hadi’s medical status and accommodations being made to enable his participation in proceedings, and the commission heard testimony from Hadi’s neurosurgeon, the camp senior medical officer (SMO), and the commander of the Joint Detention Group (JDG).
The military commission trying alleged al-Qaeda commander Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi reconvened on Nov. 6, after Hadi’s poor medical condition impeded the previous session in September. The Nov. 6 session ended after only thirty minutes, due to Hadi suffering back spasms and needing treatment.
The military commission trying alleged al-Qaeda commander Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi reconvened on Sept. 24 after a break in proceedings since April. A planned session in June was cancelled after Hadi underwent emergency spinal surgery in May, his fifth such operation since September 2017.
The military commission trying alleged al-Qaeda commander Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi reconvened in public session on April 17 after a break in proceedings since February.
Proceedings in the military commission of alleged al Qaeda commander Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi continued Feb. 5–6 and then again more than a week later on Feb. 13 at Guantanamo Naval Base, with military judge Army Col. Peter Rubin presiding. The commission met for a half day on Feb. 5 to continue discussing matters raised in prior days and for twenty minutes on Feb. 6 so that Rubin could issue rulings on a number of pending motions before the court.
The military commission to try Abd al Hadi al Iraqi met only once this week. The commission discussed the publicity of the al Darbi deposition, al Hadi’s presence at that deposition, the exclusion of al Hadi from proceedings at which the government or defense shares classified information, and the defense’s ability to apply for resources to obtain expert assistance ex parte. The military judge ruled that the al Darbi deposition would be bifurcated, with direct examination in August and cross-examination at a later date. Here is our summary of the proceedings.
Military Commissions Chief Prosecutor Brigadier General Mark Martins released the following statement yesterday on the occasion of the conclusion of military commissions hearings this week in the case of Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi.
We are back for the second—and last—day of hearings this week in the case of Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi. Military judge Marine Colonel Peter Rubin gavels us in. He notes that the same parties are present as when recess was taken yesterday, with the addition of defense counsel Brent Rushforth, who had missed the first session due to a medical issue.
We return to Guantanamo for a military commissions hearing in the case of Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi—or, as he’d now like to be called, Nashwan al-Tamir. Military judge Marine Colonel Peter Rubin calls the commission to order and begins by questioning Adam Thurschwell, newly assigned counsel for Hadi, on his potential conflicts of interest related to his work as defense counsel in the military commissions case of Ammar al Baluchi and appellate litigation on behalf of Salim Hamdan.