Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
gu·lag [goo-lahg]
–noun (sometimes initial capital letter)
1. the system of forced-labor camps in the Soviet Union.
2. a Soviet forced-labor camp.
3. any prison or detention camp, esp. for political prisoners.
[Origin: 1970–75; < Russ Gulág, acronym from Glávnoe upravlénie ispravítel?no-trudovýkh lageré? Main Directorate of Corrective Labor Camps]

My emphasis. The word is widely used in the context I presented, especially when lacking the capital letter.
You had no intention of suggesting any connection to the Soviet Gulag?

Note: a political prisoner is typically one held by the state because of his ideas. It turns on notions of free speech and authoritarianism. Is that the direction you want to go to attempt to justify your language?

I'm irresponsible for using a rhetorical device to highlight human rights abuses?
Reference to "using a rhetorical device" is telling.

As to human rights abuses: what human right are you referring to?

If you are more concerned with possible hyperbole in the Backroom than the appalling abuses of human rights going on in Guantanamo Bay, then I shall leave you to enjoy PanzerJager's outraged company.

I am concerned with uncritical assumptions and judgments, whether it be by ignorant authors of articles on law proceedings or others.