INDEFINITE ARBITRARY DETENTION OF INNOCENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A HUMANITARIAN IMPERATIVE FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Abstract

In the aftermath of the post-9/11 “Global War on Terror” and amid persistent conflicts and political repression worldwide, thousands of individuals continue to face prolonged, indefinite detention without formal charges, credible evidence, or access to fair judicial processes. Parallel practices persist globally, including mass arbitrary arrests during protests, administrative immigration detention, and politically motivated detentions. Grounded in declassified official records, United Nations findings, and human rights documentation, this article argues that such detentions constitute grave violations of international law and fundamental human dignity.