Nournews: More than two decades have passed since the September 11, 2001 attacks; an incident the U.S. considered a turning point for initiating a series of wars and global interventions. Meanwhile, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the main suspects of the attacks, has always been at the center of military courts’ attention. However, the long delay in the trial process and the US government's recent prevention of presenting his confessions have revealed new dimensions of the legal and political challenges linked to this case.
A two-decades delay and legal consequences
The case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, since his arrest in 2003, has faced repeated delays. After his capture in Pakistan, he spent the first three years in the CIA's secret prisons, which are known for employing harsh interrogation techniques, including waterboarding and sleep deprivation. These conditions called into question the legitimacy of his initial confessions and prolonged the legal process.
In addition, detainees at Guantanamo Bay, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, have often been held without trial or formal charges. This practice has been regarded as a blatant violation of criminal justice principles. Such conditions have led to the revelation of the U.S.'s contradictory behavior in defending human rights.
The reasons for preventing of holding courts
"Recently, the U.S. government has prevented the holding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's confession trial due to legal and security concerns. Among the reasons presented is the complaint of the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the lack of coordination with the suspect in accepting his confessions."
The political dimensions of delay and prevention
"The key question is: why, after two decades, has the case remained unsolved? Analysis of the probable consequences of reopening the case shows that preventing the court proceedings goes beyond legal concerns, and has political and strategic dimensions as well.
Speculations about the possible role of some American and Israeli officials in the September 11 attacks, which could be revealed through reopening the case, may lead to new investigations that could weaken the U.S.'s position.
In addition, reopening the case will probably call into question the official U.S. narrative regarding the justification for the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. The revelation of documents related to false claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is an example of this process.
At the same time, holding the trial could expose the U.S.'s collaboration with militant groups in some parts of the world—issues that could harm the credibility of the country's anti-terrorism policies."
Probable consequences for the U.S.
The United States has been using the narrative of the September 11, 2001 attacks to impose sanctions, military interventions, and exert pressure on various countries. The revelation of the hidden dimensions of this case could weaken this tool.
Additionally, the Guantanamo Bay case is a prominent example of human rights violations that will be highlighted even more with the reopening of the court.
The U.S.'s recent connections with groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is still on the United Nations' list of terrorist organizations and is considered a branch of Al-Qaeda, have raised serious questions about the U.S.'s trustworthiness in the fight against terrorism. Therefore, revealing new dimensions of the country’s past collaborations with terrorist groups could more blatantly challenge the U.S.'s claims in this regard.
Preventing the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed not only raises serious questions about the U.S.'s legal and political actions but also reflects a fear of the revelation of hidden truths about the September 11, 2001 attacks and their global consequences.
The case once again exposes contradictions in U.S. behavior regarding its claims of defending human rights and combating terrorism. It could lead to serious challenges for both U.S. domestic and foreign policies."
NOURNEWS