9/11 Terrorist Mastermind accused US of torture at Gitmo (Creative Commons)

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Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, 47, told the judge that the government acted unjustly in the name of national security.

The AP reports:

Many can kill people under the name of national security, and to torture people under the name of national security," the Arabic-speaking Mohammed said through a translator. "And detain their underage children under the name of national security."

Mohammed and his four co-defendants face terrorism charges, conspiracy and 2,976 counts of murder. They could receive the death penalty if convicted.

In 2008, Mohammed said he would plead guilty before a military tribunal, saying he wanted to be a matyr.

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The words of Mohammed  followed a request to prevent the public from hearing the CIA’s side and the interrogation of the defendants.

The Post reports:

“The government label of classified information does not turn third-party knowledge, experience and memories into something the government can suppress,” argued Hina Shamsi of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a motion seeking unfettered public access to the proceedings.

The judge will have the ultimate say over whether the sessions should be closed to the public.