The father of Yaser Hamdi pleaded with Congress in letters made public today for fair treatment for his son. He said his American-born son went to Afganistan and Pakistan to do humanitarian relief work.

The senior Hamdi wants his son treated as the American citizen he is--not the enemy combatant the Government is claiming him to be--Hamdi has been held in a military jail without counsel since November.

Yesterday the Government defied a prior court order to turn over documents to the Judge so he could rationally decide the controversy. But, turns out the court of appeals mandate from the 4th Circuit hasn't been received yet so the Judge entered another order saying he doesn't have jurisdiction of the case yet.

So Hamdi remains locked up, subject to interrogations without counsel, and who knows what other deprivations.

We hope the Senators give Hamdi Sr.'s pleas full consideration.

Update: Thanks to How Appealing for posting that this afternoon that the Fourth Circuit issued an Order directing that the mandate issue "forthwith" and that the stay is dissolved. Translation: The district court judge that said he does not have jurisdiction now has it and immediately pick up where it left off which is with the Government defying his order to produce records on Hamdi.