For immediate release: Friday 30 October 2015
The
London Guantánamo Campaign [1] welcomes the release of the last British resident
held at Guantánamo Bay, 48-year old Saudi national Shaker Aamer [2]. Mr Aamer,
who has indefinite leave to remain in the UK and a British family, has been
held in Guantánamo Bay since February 2002 where he has never faced charges or
trial, and was first cleared for release in 2007.
Aisha Maniar,
spokesperson for the London Guantánamo Campaign, says, “The London Guantánamo
Campaign welcomes the release of the last British resident Shaker Aamer, for
whom we have campaigned since 2006.
“We are pleased
for the family of Shaker Aamer and hope they will be given the space and
privacy to reunite and reconnect as a family. Release from indefinite detention
and torture after almost 14 years creates new challenges and difficulties and we
urge that Shaker Aamer is given adequate opportunity to receive
rehabilitation and all the care he requires as a survivor of torture.
“Shaker’s
case has nonetheless demonstrated the frailty of the ‘special relationship’
between the US and UK. Unanswered questions remain, particularly why it has
taken so long, when he was first cleared for release and his return was sought in 2007. Both the Conservative and Labour
parties must respond.
“There
are still 112 prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay and we will continue to campaign
for their release and the closure of the prison camp. The London Guantánamo
Campaign also thanks the many individuals and grassroots organisations who have
worked tirelessly for many years for his release, long before his case came to
the public attention.”
ENDS
NOTES TO
EDITORS
1. The London Guantánamo Campaign was set
up in 2006 and campaigns for justice for all prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, for
the closure of this and other secret prisons, and an end to the practice of
extraordinary rendition. http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com
2. For
more details on Shaker Aamer’s case, see http://www.reprieve.org.uk/case-study/shaker-aamer/
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