Former Guantanamo Detainee's Suit Alleging Free Exercise Violations Dismissed For Lack of Jurisdiction

In Ameur v. Gates, (ED VA, June 29, 2013), plaintiff, an Algerian citizen arrested in Pakistan and subsequently transferred to Guantanamo Bay for five years, sued various former government officials for damages alleging that his treatment violated customary international law, the Geneva Convention, the 5th Amendment, the 1st Amendment's free speech and free exercise protections, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The court dismissed his claims finding that the Military Commission Act divests the court of jurisdiction. Lawfare blog has more on the decision.