FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2013
Contact: Samantha Friedman, West End Strategy Team
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People of Faith Applaud Congress for Easing Restrictions on Guantanamo Transfers
Washington, D.C. – An organization representing thousands of people of faith from diverse religious groups across the country expressed its appreciation today for provisions in the final version of the FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which smooth the path toward closing Guantanamo by easing the restrictions on transfers of detainees to foreign countries. The NDAA, which passed the Senate late yesterday, and which was previously passed by the House, is expected to be signed into law.
Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, said about the new Guantanamo provisions, “Congress did the right thing by easing the restrictions on transferring prisoners out of Guantanamo. Guantanamo is a place where detainees were tortured and where most have been imprisoned for years without charge or trial. Its very existence is a violation of American values.”
Matt Hawthorne, Policy Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, added, “The focus is on the President now. With Congress’ easing of the restrictions on transferring the majority of detainees out of Guantanamo, the President has room to act – and act he must if he is to achieve his promise of closing Guantanamo and ending that stain on the American conscience.”
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 325 religious organizations have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.
www.nrcat.org
Follow NRCAT on Twitter at @NRCATtweets and on Facebook at facebook.com/nrcat
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