Rights on Paper, Violations in Practice: Israel, the U.S., and the Failure to Enforce Judicial Pro¬tections and International Obligations in Cases of Arbitrary Detentions

Authors

Anjali NarayananFollow

Abstract

Muhammad Srur, a 34-year-old father, en­dured small cells, restricted movement, minimal family visits, and limited access to legal counsel when detained by Israel. He was beaten during arrest and interrogation, and the food, medical care, and living conditions fell below international standards. Half a world away, Abu Zubaydah remains in extreme isolation at Guantánamo Bay, following secret CIA detention where he faced prolonged confinement, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and other forms of torture. These men will never meet. Yet, their situations reflect the same legal reality: both have been placed into categories designed to fall outside the full protections of international law and their own states’ constitutional and statutory safeguards. Their experiences illustrate how legal classifications shape detention conditions and affect whether basic rights can be enforced.