US charges Australian David Hicks
{{date|March 26, 2007}}

[[Image:Guantanamo Bay David Hicks Cell, Reading Room Inset.jpg|thumb|{{w|David Hicks}}' cell at Guantanamo Bay (reading room in inset).]]

[[David Hicks]] of [[Australia]] became the first to be charged under the new Military Commissions Act as he appeared before a military judge at [[Guantanamo Bay]] to face charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization. The 31-year-old Australian's lawyers have been considering a plea bargain, in hopes he can be handed to Australian custody. It is alleged that Hicks, a {{w|Muslim}} convert, attended {{w|al-Qaeda}} training camps and fought with the {{w|Taliban}}. He was captured in 2001 in [[Afghanistan]] where, according to his father, he was on a religious pilgrimage.

Hicks sought to expand his defense team, but two of his lawyers were disqualified by the military judge. One of them, Joshua Dratel, refused to sign a document setting out the rules for the tribunal. Hicks said he was "shocked" to lose another lawyer.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-03-26-voa60.cfm
|title=Australian Charged as Enemy Combatant in Guantanamo
|author=Brian Wagner
|pub=Voice of America
|date=March 26, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6494281.stm
|title=Hicks charged in Guantanamo court
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=March 26, 2007}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:David Hicks]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Guantanamo Bay]]
' cell at Guantanamo Bay (reading room in inset).

David Hicks of Australia became the first to be charged under the new Military Commissions Act as he appeared before a military judge at Guantanamo Bay to face charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization. The 31-year-old Australian's lawyers have been considering a plea bargain, in hopes he can be handed to Australian custody. It is alleged that Hicks, a al-Qaeda training camps and fought with the . He was captured in 2001 in Afghanistan where, according to his father, he was on a religious pilgrimage.

Hicks sought to expand his defense team, but two of his lawyers were disqualified by the military judge. One of them, Joshua Dratel, refused to sign a document setting out the rules for the tribunal. Hicks said he was "shocked" to lose another lawyer.
United States Australia Afghanistan Politics and conflicts Crime and law David Hicks North America Oceania Asia Guantanamo Bay