Do political detainees deserve human rights?

Rallies across the country, including Detroit, by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups are focusing on human rights....

This includes the restoration of habeas corpus for political detainees, end torture of political detainees, and and end to indefinite detention of detainees at facilities like Guntanmo Bay.

One such ralley took place in Detroit today, but they're happending nationwide.

What do you think?

For a little more info, here is a link to an article about today's rally in Detroit:

http://www.wwj.com/pages/619857.php?

Ofcourse they deserve rights! These people haven't been tried and I bet some are just in there because of mistakes. Some of these people are probably innocent, and anyway, innocent until proven guilty, PERIOD! Give them their rights definatly!

Yes. If they are human.

NO! The government should first detain the ACLU- they are destroying our country!!!!!!!!!

I really hate the ACLU!!!!

Yes - The Bill of Rights (and anyone with basic human decency) says that people have basic human rights that the government cannot give you, nor take away. I take that to mean that people of all countries deserve these basic rights, since our (or any, in our eyes) government cannot grant them, nor take them. If these people are guilty, then try them and lock 'em up, and throw away the key. However, if many are innocent, it's their basic human right to be free.

We wanted to liberate the Iraqi people from Saddam so badly, that we're putting our soldiers lives at risk; but we're locking up innocent Iraqis and throwing away the key - and that's somehow OK? We're trying to give these people the 'gift' of democracy, however, we're not allowing them democratic rights? Yeah, makes perfect sense.

Edit: Seriously people - tell me how you know they are ALL terrorists?! Do you read a newspaper? Iraqis are turning people in to collect on the reward money being offered, or they're taken in for any suspicious reason. These people then sit in jail without being told why, without being presented evidence against them, and no hope for a trial. I'm glad I'm American and get this 'innocent until proven guilty' thing - 'cause I guess everyone else is just f'ed. Sucks for you!

Ken C: I understand the Bill of Rights applies to Americans - I'm saying that I interpret "basic human rights" as just that. HUMAN rights, not AMERICAN rights. If the Bill of Rights is saying that you have these rights regardless of government (including ours!); wouldn't that then apply to all people? How can we follow international law if we haven't proven these people are in fact terrorists! If they are terrorists, fine, shoot 'em for all I care. My point to verifying that they ARE in fact terrorists. Being that we're the greatest country on earth, how about we treat people as well as we treat ourselves - rather than whatever international law wants us to do. Really, I don't think 'international law' will mind...

I'd have to agree with mojo jo jo. If they're trying to kill us, why should we show any compassion?

Well if we use the Geneva Convention as a Guidebook it says no, they do not deserve those rights. Since they wear no uniform, nor are they part of a Military Operation, or recognized Army, they gave up all their rights.
If we followed the Letter of the Law in the Geneva Convention, they would be shot as spies.
So, in light of what they chose to do, and the Laws of the Geneva Convention, it would appear they are getting more rights than they deserve.

Shelly: The Bill of Rights applies to Americans. Not spies and terrorists as defined by International Law.

The US demands it of other countries. The answer would be yes.

The ACLU is notoriously treacherous in such matters. When it comes to issues of Terrorism, i'm inclined to believe that the ACLU would rather see the US bombed again, than have the suspects questioned at gitmo.

6th Amendment in the Bill of Rights

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Note: I believe everyone should be entitled to this right, wherever they came from. We have a democratic government, we must show that to others. We also do need to have habeas corpus in place.

I guess it depends; are they human? If so, then yes.

Political detainees? They're criminals, terrorists and no they don't. They want us dead. I don't care about their "RIGHTS".

Edit: I'd rather they stay detained until it's for certain that they mean us no harm. In my experience, where there's smoke there's fire.