Name Zachary Katznelson | ||
Zachary Philip Katznelson is a British lawyer and senior counsel for the human rights group Reprieve.
Contents
- Comments on Guantanamo captives cases
- Cases with which Zachary Katznelson has been involved
- References
Katznelson and his colleagues have represented 37 Guantanamo detainees. He written numerous newspaper op-eds and is frequently quoted in the British press.
Comments on Guantanamo captives' cases
The BBC News quoted Katznelson's comments following the release of Bisher Al Rawi:
On 6 September 2009, Katznelson made what The Guardian characterised as "extraordinary claims" on behalf of his client Shaker Aamer.
He repeated accounts Aamer had offered him of severe abuse during his initial interrogations in the Bagram Theater Internment Facility. Aamer claimed some of the interrogators who abused him in Bagram, in early 2002, represented themselves as MI5 officers. Aamer told him about feeling terrified as he recovered from one stunning beating that his interrogators had left him alone in a room with a pistol on the table. Aamer told him that the interrogators who represented themselves as MI5 officers offered him a choice. If he agreed to spy on suspected jihadists living in the UK he could be released to the United Kingdom. Alternatively he could remain indefinitely American custody.Commenting on Aamer's report that he had been left alone with a gun Katznelson said:
"The interrogators at the time were clearly making it up as they went along. He [Aamer] didn't know what to make of it. He was absolutely terrified. He'd been abused and then he was left alone with a gun. You can't get more abusive than that."
Commenting on Aamer's report that MI5 had tried to recruit him as a spy Katznelson said:
"You wouldn't make that offer to someone you thought was dangerous. It wouldn't make sense from a security perspective."
Cases with which Zachary Katznelson has been involved
Katznelson has filed documents for the following detainees:
On 9 July 2008, he filed a STATEMENT REGARDING HEARING OF 8 July 2008 in Civil Actions: 05-CV-748 (RMC), 05-CV-764 (CKK), 05-CV-1347 (GK), 05-CV-1504 (RMC), 05-CV-2215 (RMC), 05-CV-2349 (RMC), 05-CV-2386 (RBW), 06-CV-1766 (HHK).
On 18 July 2008, he filed a "STATUS REPORT" with regard to Jihad Dhiab, Shaker Aamer in Civil Action No. 05-cv-1457 (GK).
On 18 July 2008, he filed a Status Report with regard to Ahmed Belbacha (ISN 290) in Civil Action No. 05-cv-2349 (RMC).
On 18 July 2008, he filed a Status report with regard to Shaker Abdurraheem Aamer (ISN 239) in Civil Action No. 04-cv-2215 (RMC).
On 18 July 2008, he filed a Status report in Civil Action No. 05-cv-764 (CKK) on behalf of Younis Shakur and Abdullatif Mohammed Nasser.
On 16 August 2008, he filed a NOTICE OF AUTHORIZATION in Mohammed Omar v. George W. Bush Civil Action No. 05-2386 (RBW) on behalf of Mohammed Omar.
On 18 August 2008, he filed a NOTICE OF APPEARANCE on behalf of Ahmed Omar (ISN 30) in Civil Action No. 05-cv-2386 (RBW).
On 29 August 2008, he filed a CONSENT MOTION FOR ENTRY OF PROTECTIVE ORDER with regard to Mohammed Abdulmalik in Civil Action No. 08-cv-1440 (CKK).
On 9 September 2008, he filed a NOTICE OF JOINDER IN PETITIONERS' RESPONSE TO RESPONDENTS' REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM SCHEDULING ORDER with regard to Mohammed Abdulmalik in Civil Action No. 05-cv-764, 05-cv-1504, 05-cv-2349, 05-cv-748, 04-cv-2215, 05-1457, 05-cv-270, 08-cv-1440, 05-cv-2386 (CKK, RMC, GK, JR, RBW).
On 12 September 2008, he filed a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION in Civil Action No. 05-cv-764, 05-cv-1504, 05-cv-2349, 05-cv-748, 04-cv-2215, 05-1457, 05-cv-270, 08-cv-1440, 05-cv-2386 (CKK, RMC, GK, JR, RBW).
On 27 September 2008, he filed a "Notices of authorisation by petitioners to pursue this action" in Civil Action No. 05-cv-329, 05-cv-2349 (PLF, RMC).
On 27 September 2008, Katznelson and Cori Crider of Reprieve jointly filed a "NOTICE OF AUTHORIZATION BY PETITIONER SAIFULLAH PARACHA TO PURSUE THIS ACTION" on behalf of Saifullah Paracha in Civil Action No. 04-2022 (PLF).
On 10 November 2008, Katznelson filed a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION in Civil Action No. 08-cv-1789 (RWR).