On 17 October, President Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act (MCA), which authorizes trials of terrorist suspects by military commissions. The MCA also contains provisions that impose severe restrictions on terrorist suspects’ rights to challenge any aspect of detention, transfer, treatment, trial or conditions of confinement before US courts. On the basis of these provisions, the Government filed motions to dismiss habeas corpus petitions by individuals designated as “enemy combatants,” including that of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a Qatari student held inside the US. On 16 November, Senator Dodd (Democrat) introduced a bill to amend various provisions of the MCA to restore greater rights for detainees.
Military Commission Act ICRC Statement Motion to Dismiss Dodd’s Bill