Detainees at Guantanamo Bay do not possess the same legal rights as U.S. citizens due to their non-citizen status and classification as "enemies of mankind." They are not protected by the U.S. Constitution or the Geneva Conventions as uniformed soldiers. The discussion highlights the minimal rights they retain, such as protection from torture, while emphasizing the troubling suspension of habeas corpus and the lack of due process in their detainment. The conversation also touches on the philosophical underpinnings of rights as inalienable and the implications of the Bill of Rights.
PREREQUISITESLegal scholars, human rights advocates, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of law and ethics regarding detainee rights and U.S. constitutional protections.