Writ of Habeas Corpus
In English speaking democracies, since the thirteenth century signing of the Magna Carta, captives were able to call upon the writ of habeas corpus — literally "you should have the body." This legal procedure required the state to show that there was a meaningful, legal justification for their detention.
Read more about this topic: Extrajudicial Detention
Famous quotes containing the words writ and/or corpus:
“If you have writ your annals true, ‘tis there
That, like an eagle in a dove-cote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles.
Alone I did it.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“By that bedes side ther kneleth a may,
And she wepeth both nyght and day.
And by that beddes side ther stondith a ston,
‘Corpus Christi’wretyn theron.”
—Unknown. Corpus Christi Carol (l. 11–14)