Human Rights Watch 2007
News and Releases
Compiled by Kandy Ringer
|
|
Human Rights Watch 2007 News and Releases Compiled by Kandy Ringer |
|
UK Requests Release of Former Legal British Residents from Guantanamo
BBSNews August 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC (HRW) British Foreign Secretary David Miliband sent a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today, requesting the release and return from Guantanamo of five men who were formerly legal residents of the UK.
"International pressure like this is what we need to make the goal of closing Guantanamo a reality," said Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel for Human Rights Watch. "We can only hope that EU countries will work together to accept more detainees from Guantanamo."
There are still approximately 360 detainees being held in Guantanamo without charge, 150 of whom US officials have deemed eligible for release or transfer. Some of these detainees -- including more than a dozen Chinese Uighurs -- have been cleared for release for years, but cannot and should not be returned to their home country because they would likely face abuse if returned there.
Human Rights Watch has long urged other nations to help resettle some of these men. The UK's decision to accept its legal residents is an important step forward. At the same time, Human Rights Watch continues to urge the UK and other EU member states to help resettle other detainees who may not have a legal claim to residency, but who cannot return to their home countries.
The UK asked for the release of the following five detainees:
Abdennour Sameur, a 34-year-old Algerian given refugee status in the UK in 2000; held in Guantanamo since 2002.
Binyam Mohammad, a 29-year-old Ethiopian who sought asylum in the UK in 1994 and was given leave to remain; arrested in 2002, rendered to Morocco where he was held for 18 months and reportedly tortured, before transfer to Guantanamo in 2004.
Jamil el-Banna, Jordanian granted refugee status in the UK in 1997; arrested in 2002 in Gambia, was held in what is known as the "Dark Prison" in Afghanistan, where he was reportedly tortured, then sent to Guantanamo in 2003.
Shaker Aamer, a 39-year-old born in Saudi Arabia, had lived in the UK since 1996, and had been granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK. Married with four children, who all have British nationality, he was arrested in Afghanistan, initially held in what is known as the "Dark Prison," where he was reportedly tortured; taken to Guantanamo in 2002.
Omar Deghayes, a 36-year-old Libyan granted refugee status in the UK in 1987; arrested in Pakistan and sent to Guantanamo in 2002.
More of Human Rights Watch's work on Guantanamo is available online.
Comments (0)