As the twenty-second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks looms, justice for families of victims seems to be slipping further and further away.
The masterminds behind the atrocities may not face the death penalty due to legal disputes that have delayed their trial in a Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
This is an outrage that must be addressed and rectified if our country is to live up to its promises of justice for all.
The FBI has been investigating those responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks since 2002, yet they have yet to yield any tangible results.
It appears that they are unable or unwilling to bring them to justice, as evidenced by their negotiations with suspects Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh over a plea deal which would remove the possibility of death penalty sentencing.
This lack of action on behalf of law enforcement sends a message that our system is broken and incapable of providing fair outcomes in cases involving terrorist activity.
At issue has been interrogation methods reportedly used when suspects were captured and sent to Guantanamo Bay.
Techniques such as waterboarding simulating drowning have been called into question due to possible human rights violations associated with them.
Though hearings are scheduled for September 18th, 2023, this delay will only prolong the suffering endured by victims’ families who hoped for closure long ago.
Jim Riches, father of fallen firefighter Stephen Riches expressed his frustration at this situation: “How can you have any faith in it? No matter how many letters they send, until I see it I won’t believe it.”
It is imperative that we find ways to ensure justice is served swiftly and fairly so victims’ families can begin healing from these unspeakable events without worrying about whether those responsible will ever pay for what they did.
We owe it to ourselves as citizens and members of a moral society not only to bring these men before a jury but also properly punish those found guilty accordingly – no matter how difficult or chaotic this process may become.
