International Visitors
Developing nations, especially ones with emerging or fledgling democracies, look to America to study its institutions, laws and the ingenious balance of powers created by our Founding Fathers. Through various programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), delegates from these nations visit the United States and are put into contact with organizations like Judicial Watch. Since 2001, Judicial Watch has been a major participant in the Department of State’s IVLP and other leadership exchange programs, having received over 83 visiting delegations. As the premier Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigator in America today, Judicial Watch is one of the most sought after transparency and accountability organizations for personal meetings with emerging leaders from around the world who are interested in learning how they can stop corruption and demand accountability from their judges, government officials, and political parties.
The United Nations Department of Global Communications
The United Nations Department of Global Communications hosts monthly briefings and other workshops and an annual conference where representatives of NGOs from every corner of the world come together for the purpose of networking and collaborating on solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems, from security issues such as crime and violence, hunger and disease, persecution and war, to major development issues of education, job opportunities, and women’s empowerment.
Judicial Watch is associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC) as a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to promote transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. It fulfills its educational mission through litigation, investigations, and public outreach. Its International Program serves as an integral part of its educational program.
Judicial Watch GTMO Observer Program
Judicial Watch was granted observer status by the Pentagon to observe the arraignment of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in June of 2008. Since the recommencement of the 9/11 hearings at Guantanamo Bay in November 2011, JW has attended 95 percent of the hearings held at the detention facility, as well as Periodic Review Board Proceedings (PRBs) currently held at the Pentagon. Judicial Watch staff and representatives have attended and monitored over 160 hearings to date.
The summary of the most recent Pre-Trial Hearing is set forth below. For other hearing summaries and background information, see the ARCHIVE section.
Hearing Summaries
PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS
Abd Al HADI Al Iraqi, ISN 10016
Excerpts from Summary of Plea Agreement
On 10 June 2022 the government and the defense attempted to enter a pre-trial agreement, pleas, and a stipulation of fact concerning detainee ISN 10016 Abd Al Hadi Al Iraqi, but the judge denied this attempt citing several portions of the pre-trial agreement that were not clearly negotiated and stated.
On 13 June 2022, ISN 10016 Abd Al Hadi Al Iraqi and his defense team acted on AE 217 “Offer for a Pretrial Agreement” and entered AE 215T “Accused’s Plea in Accordance with the May 9, 2022, Pre-Trial Agreement” and AE 217H “Accused’s Pleas in Accordance with the 9 May 2022 Pre-Trial Agreement” by the expedient of AE 217G “Entry of Pleas as Read by LCDR Meusch.” . ..
Observations:
The pre-trial agreement and pleas of guilt were largely unexpected by the public, non- government organizations, and the press. The timeline of events by which the pre-trial agreement, stipulation of facts, and pleadings were negotiated and presented, appears to have been orchestrated in such a way as to avoid public or victim notice….
Judge Rosenow ultimately decided that more preparation was necessary, both among the accused, the Defense, and the Government, and within the Court, so that deliberations could proceed with full understanding and with dignity, and he recessed the court until the morning of Monday, 13JUN2022.
Despite the judge’s ruling, AE 217G “Entry of Pleas as Read by LCDR Meusch” was filed with a date of 10JUN2022.
The judge recessed court with the spoken expectation that any further discussion on the subject and litigation on non-waived motions would be taken up on 15AUG2022.
The way in which this plea agreement was reached appears to have been an attempt to hide from the public and the victims that:
1. ISN 10016 will no longer be held accountable for any harms he may or may not have caused to civilians, and he is being prepared for transfer to a third country where he will be beyond the recourse of civil suits, with the full agreement of the U.S. government.
2. ISN 10016’s sentencing panel will be required to view him not as a potential terrorist, but as an unmarked combatant who simply went about attacking marked combatants the wrong way.
3. ISN 10016’s sentencing panel will have an ever-greater proportion of potential members who were either not yet born or who were not old enough to be aware of public events at the time that the detainee was active as an alien belligerent.
4. The U.S. government, and by extension U.S. citizens, will be guaranteeing potentially extensive and irreversible reprieve per the pre-trial agreement, with no requirement that ISN 10016 will keep his part of the agreement.
The full summary of the PLEA AGREEMENT is found HERE in the Archive Section for HADI.
In the Media
The Hill published the following article by Thomas Wheatley, a participant in Judicial Watch’s GTMO Observer Program.
“Trump, honor Obama’s agreement to release Guantanamo detainee,”
The Hill, October 4, 2017About Thomas Wheatley, https://www2.gmu.edu/news/424386
International Visitors and United Nations DGC Briefing
- 2018
- 2017
- Summary of UN Event: The Trade in Minors in the Digital Age – September 28, 2017
- 2016
- Countries represented by international visitors to Judicial Watch in 2016:
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Albania, Czech Republic, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Togo, Finland, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Vietnam, and South Sudan
- United Nation’s Commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons – September
- Observance of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests – August
- Summary of Meeting with North Africa and the Near East Delegation – February
- 2015
- Wrap up for 2015
- Countries represented by international visitors to Judicial Watch in 2015:
Macedonia, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, Algeria Brunei, Croatia, Egypt, Hungary, India, Lithuania, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Venezuela
- Summary of Meeting with Macedonian Delegation – July
- UNESCO Event Summary SREBRENICA – July
- 2014
- Wrap up for 2014
- Countries represented by international visitors to Judicial Watch in 2014:
China, Argentina, Columbia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Republic of Kosovo, Moldova, Netherlands, Serbia, , Kenya, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras
- Western Hemisphere – September
- 65th UN DPI/NGO Conference – August
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- Croatia
- India and Bhutan
- UN-DPI, Washington, DC – “Rediscovering Preventive Diplomacy for Peace in the World’s Hotspots: A View from the United Nations”
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Vietnam
- French Counterterrorism Officials
- 2009
- 2008
- Thailand
- Multi-Regional Delegation – The US Judicial System – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burma, Timor-Leste, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nigeria, Malawi, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, People’s Republic of China, South Africa
- France
- 11 Latin American Countries – Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
- 2007
- 2006
- Croatia – Law Enforcement and the Judiciary
- Tanzania
- France- French Ministry of Justice
- The Multi-Regional Project
- Italy
- Ukraine
- France
- Kyrgyzstan
- Cambodia
- Croatia
- Fulbright Fellows
- The Sun Shines in Over 60 Countries Worldwide
- 2005
- 2004
- Latvia
- West Africa delegation
- Czech Republic
- Ghana
- 2003
- Brazil
- Russia
- Republic of China
- 2002
- Japan
- Turkey
- 2001
- Moldova
