Prof. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin Publishes Op-Ed in Just Security About Revoking of 9/11 Plea Deals

Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Regents Professor and Robina Chair in Law, Public Policy, and Society, wrote an op-ed for Just Security about the revoking of plea deals for three 9/11 prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. In February 2023, Prof. Ní Aoláin, in her capacity as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, carried out the first official U.N. visit to the Guantánamo detention facility and offered clear recommendations to the U.S. government, including on fair trial guarantees, the treatment of detainees, and victims’ rights. She said details of the plea deals in late July were just being announced when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked them and decided to pursue trials. “His decision, partially (and controversially) taking back decision-making power from the Military Commission’s convening authority seemed mostly focused on keeping the death penalty as punishment on the table.”