Friday, October 30, 2015

Media release: London Guantánamo Campaign welcomes release of last British resident in Guantánamo Bay


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/