"The fact that it took nearly nine months of litigation and a decision by the highest court of the land to obtain something as innocuous as permission for my clients to meet with a local lawyer speaks volumes about how hard the government of Eswatini is fighting to deny these men the most basic of rights."
"There can be no real harm in granting the respondent access to the detainees; it then will be up to the detainees, if they do not wish to see the respondent, to tell this to the respondent to his face."
Four men deported to Eswatini from the US were denied in-person legal counsel for nine months while detained. The supreme court ruled they have the right to see a local lawyer. The men, labeled dangerous criminals by the US, had already served sentences for their crimes. Eswatini's correctional services initially refused access to a local lawyer, despite allowing calls to US lawyers. The court rejected the government's argument against granting access, emphasizing the detainees' right to meet with legal counsel.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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