[JURIST] The US Supreme Court Friday ordered the Obama administration and lawyers for Chinese Uighurs detained at Guantanamo Bay to file briefs explaining how Switzerland’s decision to accept two Uighurs as refugees affects their pending habeas petition. The Court originally granted certiorari in Kiyemba v. Obama to determine whether it is within the power of the judicial branch to order the release of detainees into the United States. The Department of Justice argued last week that the Uighurs appeals were moot after Switzerland announced its decision to accept the two Uighurs into its Country
The Obama administration has refused to repatriate the Chinese Uighurs due to fears that they may be mistreated in China, where they are considered terrorists. Of the 22 Uighurs originally detained at Guantanamo Bay, 17 have been relocated to other countries. Six Uighurs were transferred to Palau , four to Bermuda, five to Albania, and two were accepted by Switzerland last week despite objections from the Chinese government. Palau announced last week that it would accept the remaining five Uighurs.