US approves indefinite military custody

Guantanamo Bay prisoners. (file photo)

Source: press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/213040.html

The US Senate has voted to keep a controversial provision which lets the military to detain terrorism suspects indefinitely without civilian trials, even if they are American citizens.

The Amendment, which is part of the massive National Defense Authorization Act, was voted down with 61 against and 37 in favor on Wednesday, Huffington Post reported.

United States President, Barack Obama, however opposes the provision and has suggested he would veto the bill unless it's removed.

"Congress is essentially authorizing the indefinite imprisonment of American citizens, without charge," Democrat Senator from California, Dianne Feinstein Said.

Under the new legislation, the US military is given the custody of anyone who has planned or carried out an attack against the US and its allies, or who is deemed to be a member of al Qaeda or one of its affiliates.

The bill also re-affirms an existing law on indefinite detention and the right of the administration to try suspected terrorists in military commissions rather than civilian courts, an authority that the former President George Bush and Obama administrations have exercised.