Without having the letter from Snowden's father in front of us, we can't say exactly what is being asked for; but the fact that the United States of America has been labeled a 'country of concern' by multiple international bodies monitoring human rights violations[1] for it's treatment of Bradley Manning means that Snowden's family may rationally be concerned that Snowden would be subjected to prejudicial treatment whilst in pre-trial detention. Most especially the holding of individuals in solitary confinement throughout the US penal system is currently the subject of international concern [2] as a method of torture and cruel and unusual punishment. Especially in regards to the treatment of whistleblowers; which brings in the question of the right of the citizenry at large to be informed of the deeds of the government. [3]
The fact that the United States has been so willing to violate it's own stated principles of justice, not merely in the case of accused terrorists in the concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay; but also domestically. Means that Snowden's father would be justified in asking for public guarantees of treatment that should be accorded to an accused defendant as a matter of course.
If I were negotiating Snowden's surrender I can think of a number of guarantees that I would demand of the US Justice department. They would start with a complete ban on solitary confinement, a guaranteed right of access by his legal team, counselors, internation human rights observers and selected media contacts. I would also ensure that he was guaranteed the right to choose his wardrobe for all public appearances and might even ask for public video feeds of the public areas where he is held in confinement so that the world could see he was being treated with utmost fairness.
This country has never quite lived up to it's idealized image of itself; but the fact that any rational person would today fear torture at the hands of the US government if they are held in detention should give us all pause.
The fact that the United States has been so willing to violate it's own stated principles of justice, not merely in the case of accused terrorists in the concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay; but also domestically. Means that Snowden's father would be justified in asking for public guarantees of treatment that should be accorded to an accused defendant as a matter of course.
If I were negotiating Snowden's surrender I can think of a number of guarantees that I would demand of the US Justice department. They would start with a complete ban on solitary confinement, a guaranteed right of access by his legal team, counselors, internation human rights observers and selected media contacts. I would also ensure that he was guaranteed the right to choose his wardrobe for all public appearances and might even ask for public video feeds of the public areas where he is held in confinement so that the world could see he was being treated with utmost fairness.
This country has never quite lived up to it's idealized image of itself; but the fact that any rational person would today fear torture at the hands of the US government if they are held in detention should give us all pause.
1. https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/usa-must-not-hunt-down-whist...
2. http://www.aclu.org/blog/prisoners-rights-human-rights-natio...
3. http://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/37133/en/usa...