NEW VOICES: U.S. Attorney General Opposes Death Sentences in Military Commission Trials

U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey said that he hopes that the Guantanamo prisoners accused of terrorism do not receive the death penalty in the upcoming Military Commission trials because it would give them the martyrdom that they want.  In a recent talk to British economic students, Mukasey said he supports the death penalty, but, "In a way I kind of hope from a personal standpoint ... I kind of hope they don't get it. Because many of them want to be martyrs ....”

Prosecuting attorneys for the military have asked to seek the death penalty for 6 prisoners in Guantanamo accused of terrorism. The Department of Defense has not yet announced whether they will approve the military commission trials as capital cases.
(“Mukasey: Avoid death, martyrdom for 9/11 accused,” by Terry Frieden, CNN.com, March 14, 2008). See New Voices and Federal Death Penalty.