Watching the Shadows

Italy: appeals court orders release of ex-Gitmo detainee

The Court of Appeals in Milan overturned a lower court’s conviction of Tunisian former Guantánamo Bay detainee Mohamed Riadh Ben Nasri on charges of “terrorist association.” His lawyer argued the conviction was based on statement made under torture.

Watching the Shadows

“Terrorism” conviction for translating agitprop

Media accounts portray Tarek Mehanna as a dangerous conspirator—but he never actually received “terrorist training” in Yemen, and the texts he apparently translated were al-Qaeda propaganda videos.

Watching the Shadows

Flying robots to patrol Belfast (yes, really)

Police in Northern Ireland are considering deployment of mini-drones to combat crime and the dissident Republican threat. The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are small enough to fit into a rucksack and will be used for surveillance.

Watching the Shadows

Anwar al-Awlaki killed in drone strike; ACLU charges illegality

US-born purported al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in a drone strike in the Yemeni province of Jawf. The American Civil Liberties Union said the killing was part of a US counter-terrorism program that “violates both US and international law.”