Time is running out for North London resident Jamil El-Banna: if the British government does not act fast and allow him to return to his family in the UK, he will be returned to almost certain detention and inhumane treatment in Jordan, his country of origin. Take action...if you write only ONE letter to the Home Secretary this year, let this be the one. Forward this Urgent Action on to your friends and family and let us tell Jacqui Smith MP what we want and when we want it.
Background (Includes Sample Letter to Home Secretary- Please Read on)
· Jamil El-Banna, a 45 year old Jordanian national, has lived in the UK with his wife since 1994. The couple were granted refugee status in 1997. · He was kidnapped at Banjul Airport in Gambia in November 2002 along with his friend, Iraqi Bisher El-Rawi. They had travelled there on a business trip. · After being interrogated for a month in Gambia, the pair were taken to Afghanistan where they were tortured in the notorious “Dark Prison”. During this time, their families had no idea of where they were. · In February 2003, they were taken to Guantánamo Bay. · In November 2005, British lawyers for the pair and a third British resident in Guantánamo Bay, Libyan Omar Deghayes, launched a judicial review of the home secretary’s refusal to make representations on behalf of these men to return them to the UK, in particular given their refugee status in this country and subsequent duties incumbent on the UK government under the UN Convention on Refugees. · In 2006, telegram evidence emerged of the British government’s knowledge and involvement in Jamil and Bisher’s kidnap and “rendition”. · A year after representations were commenced on behalf of Bisher El-Rawi by the British government, he was released and returned to the UK in March 2007. The British government has refused to make any such representations for Jamil. · In April 2007, Jamil was cleared of all charges by the Pentagon and is free to leave Guantánamo Bay as soon as he has a country to return to. As a refugee, returning to Jordan would mean he is almost certain to face further detention and inhumane treatment, although Jordan has agreed to accept him. · The British government is still refusing to act on Jamil’s behalf, in spite of its international obligations towards him as a refugee. · Lawyers for Jamil started an emergency judicial review of the Home Secretary’s inaction in June 2007 which will be heard in July 2007. · Jamil was in the process of applying for British citizenship when he travelled to the Gambia.
Take action!
Time is running out for Jamil El-Banna: if the British government does not fulfil its moral duties soon, Jamil will be sent back to Jordan where he is almost certain to be jailed and abused. He has a wife and five British children in the UK. Write to the new British Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, and ask her to take immediate action to ensure that Jamil El-Banna is returned to the UK NOW: - Jamil has been found innocent by the American authorities and is not deemed to be a threat to anyone and is now free to leave Guantánamo Bay; - The UK has a moral and legal obligation towards Jamil under international conventions having accepted him as a refugee; - Jamil has a wife and five children, who are British nationals, living in the UK; - If the British government does not act IMMEDIATELY to bring Jamil back to the UK, he will be returned to Jordan where he will face further illegal detention and torture; - Furthermore, a precedent lies in the return of Bisher El-Rawi in March 2007. The British government can take action.
Sample letter (it is better to adapt the letter below when writing to the Home Secretary - You can Copy and Paste and edit)
Dear Ms. Smith,
I am writing to you concerning the urgent plight of one of the British residents held at Guantánamo Bay. Jamil El-Banna has been held in Guantánamo Bay without charge or trial for the last four years.
Jamil El-Banna has recently been cleared of all charges and is not considered to pose a threat by the US authorities. He can leave as soon as he has a country to return to; that country should be the United Kingdom, where Mr. El-Banna held refugee status and has a wife and five children who are all British nationals. He was in the process of applying for British citizenship when he left the UK for a one month visit to the Gambia in November 2002, from which he has yet to return.
As a refugee, the British government has both a moral and legal obligation towards Mr. El-Banna and the result of the British government’s failure to recognise this responsibility for the past four years will only be compounded further if Mr. El-Banna is returned to Jordan, where he fled from, rather than being returned to his family in London. If returned to Jordan, he is almost certain to face further illegal detention and inhumane treatment.
While the government has denied its responsibility for the past four years, your predecessors have already proved that the British government can take action when it chooses; Mr El-Banna’s friend Bisher El-Rawi was returned to the UK from Guantánamo Bay in March 2007 after the British government made representations with the US government on his behalf.
I urge to meet your obligations and take urgent action to ensure Mr El-Banna’s safe and immediate return to Britain. I hope that this can be one of the first positive steps that your government is claiming to bring to the UK.
Join us on: Wednesday 4th July 2007 6.30pm viewing of exhibition 7.00pm - 9.30pm public meeting at the House of Commons Committee Room 10, St Stevens Gate London SW1A OAA (nearest tube: westminister) ALL WELCOME: OPEN TO PUBLIC
Confirmed speakers include:
Moazzam Begg (Cage Prisoner); ex-Guantanamo detainee Gareth Peirce (Birnberg Peirce); lawyer for Guantanamo detainees Amnesty international Speaker Zachary Katznelson Repreive Legal Council for Guantanamo Detainees Sarah Teather MP (All Party Parliamentary Group on Guantanamo) Desmond Fernandes (CAMPACC) Victoria Brittain (Author and playright)
For further information contact the National Coalition of Guantanamo Campaigns on 07721427690 or visit; www.guantanamo.co.uk
The Right Honourable Gordon Brown PM 10 Downing Street
Dear Prime Minister
We, the undersigned, relatives of British residents detained in Guantanamo Bay detention facility, former Guantanamo prisoners, lawyers for the prisoners, and concerned individuals, call upon you to use all means at your disposal to obtain the return to this country of all British residents illegally detained at Guantanamo Bay. All have made homes in this country; some, like Omar Deghayes after fleeing possible torture and death in Libya. They have now been detained for five years or more without charge or trial, in a prison where UN officials have documented torture and abuse. We are very concerned about their physical and mental wellbeing.
Today Americans celebrate their Independence Day, rightly highlighting the concepts of equality, liberty and rights enshrined in their Constitution. Today, the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay sadly celebrates its 2000th day. The Guantanamo Bay prisoners are denied those cherished rights: the ‘unalienable rights’ to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’, the rights to a speedy trial, humane treatment and due process contained in the US Bill of Rights. Instead, 375 people are still subjected to arbitrary and indefinite imprisonment, denied the rights that mark civilised society and the rule of law. This is having a devastating effect on the physical and mental health of the detainees. At least four detainees have died within the last 13 months. We are marking this day with the launch of an exhibition and public meeting on Guantanamo at the House of Commons and welcome you to attend.
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell recently said he would have Guantanamo closed 'this afternoon' rather than tomorrow. We call for you, likewise, to add your voice to the calls for its closure.
No-one has been released from Guantanamo as a result of a legal process. The British government’s refusal to act on behalf of the British residents leaves them in a legal black hole. We ask that the British Government accept its moral responsibility for these men and negotiate for them to be reunited with their families here or in a safe place of their choosing.
We urge you to make this a priority in the first days of your premiership. To ignore such abuses will set back any ‘war on terrorism’. Please do everything you can to bring back the British residents before their health and lives are irretrievably damaged.
Yours sincerely
Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo detainee, Cageprisoners Ruhal Ahmed, former Guantanamo detainee Bisher Al Rawi, former Guantanamo detainee Airat Vakhitov, former Guantanamo detainee Mourad Benchellali, former Guantanamo detainee Shafiq Rasul, former Guantanamo detainee Mrs El-Banna, wife of British Resident held in Guantanamo, Jamil El-Banna Amani Deghayes, sister of British resident held in Guantanamo, Omar Deghayes Mrs Aamer, wife of British resident held in Guantanamo, Shaker Aamer Prof. Dr. Manfred Nowak, LL.M, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Professor for International Human Rights Protection, University of Vienna, Director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Baroness Sarah Ludford, MEP Lord Nazir Ahmed Baron Dholakia Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Baroness Frances D’Souza Dr. Adnan Siddiqui, Cageprisoners Clive Stafford Smith, Legal Director, Reprieve (counsel to many prisoners) Zachary Katznelson, Senior Counsel, Reprieve Kate Allen, Director, Amnesty International UK Jean Lambert MEP Sajjad Karim, MEP Caroline Lucas MEP Clare Short MP Geoffrey Bindman, Chair of the British Institute for Human Rights John Pilger, Journalist, author & film-maker Tahir Butt, Metropolitan Police, Spokesman for Association of Muslim Police Professor Bill Bowring, Barrister, Professor of Law, Birbeck College Louise Christian, Christian Khan Shami Chakrabarti, Liberty Natalia Garcia, lawyer for British resident in Guantanamo, Tyndalwoods Phil Shiner, Public Interest Lawyers Vanessa Redgrave, Actress Corin Redgrave, Actor, Guantanamo Human Rights Commission Kika Markham, Actress Liz Davies, Chair, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers Yvonne Ridley, Journalist Dr Azzam Tamimi, Tariq Ramadan, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford St Anthony’s College, Lokahi Foundation (London), Visiting Professor, Erasmus University, Holland, Doshisha University (Japan) Ian Macdonald QC, Garden Court Chambers Nusrat Chagtai, Director, British Muslim Human Rights Centre Richard Hermer, Doughty Street Chambers Mudassar Arani, Arani & Co Solicitors Javaid Rehman, Professor of International Law and Director of Research, Brunel University Dr David Nicholl, Birmingham Guantanamo Campaign Estella Schmidt, CAMPACC Dr A. Sivanandan, Writer, Institute of Race Relations Ian Waller, Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute, London Metropolitan University Lindsey German, National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition Imran Khan, Imran Khan & Partners Victoria Brittain, Author and playwright Matt Whitecross, Revolution Films, Director, The Road to Guantanamo Aki Nawaz, Fun Da Mental Andy Worthington, Author, The Guantanamo Files Ruhul Tarafder, 1990 Trust Naima Bouteldja, Journalist Linda Rogers, Peace & Progress Errol Walters, Director of Black Londoners Forum Karen Chouhan, 1990 Trust Helen Shaw, Co-Director, INQUEST Salma Yaqoob, Birmingham City Councillor, Respect Massoud Shadjareh, Chair, Islamic Human Rights Commission Andrew Tyrie MP
2000 days of illegal imprisonment; 2000 days of captivity; 2000 days of torture; 2000 days of brutality; 2000 days of injustice. 4th July 2007 marks 2000 days of Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
On the 4th July, America will be celebrating it’s Declaration of Independence’ which recites ‘that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’. The irony is stark. On this day we remind the world of the continued denial of the most basic human rights by the USA at Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Opened on 11th January 2002, over 800 people have been held captive in Guantanamo, of whom 380 remain. Over 400 captives have been released without ever having been charged or facing a trial. Innocent men and children have been snatched, rendered, held,often in solitary confinement, tortured, humiliated, brutalised and then released without even an apology. Hundreds of men continue to be held in captivity in inhumane and torturous conditions without the fundamental human right of knowing why they are being held and right to a fair trial. No one from Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility has been charged in connection with 11th September Attacks, yet the USA and British governments would have us believe otherwise. National Coalition of Guantanamo Campaigns
Last month Ahmed Errachiddi was released from Guantanamo and sent to Morocco.
Campaigners are concerned about the fate of all the British residents held at Guantanamo. We would like the Prime Minister to use his "special relationship" with United States and ensure the return of all the British residents held at Guantanamo to their families in Britain.
Please sign the petition by following the link below on the Prime Minister's website asking him to get the British residents back to Britain.
Following on from Ahmed Errachidi's release from Guantanamo and subsequent disappearance in Morocco, campaigners demanding the closure of Guantanamo and the release of all detainees will be protesting outside the American embassy on Thursday the 3rd and friday the 4th between 6.00 pm to 7.00 on each day.
Please join the protest to ensure the safe return of all British residents held at Guantanamo including Ahmed Erracchidi. We are also proposing a letter writing campaign. The urgent Action notice below includes sample letters and addresses, including email addresses, that letters should be directed to. Please do everything you can.
Urgent Action: British resident AHMED ERRACHIDI has been released from Guantánamo Bay and has subsequently “disappeared” in Morocco
Background:
Ahmed Errachidi, a 41 year old Moroccan national, lived in Holloway, North London; he had lived in the UK for 18 years and was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in the late 1990s. He has two children who are British nationals.
In 2001, he travelled to Pakistan to start a business venture to raise funds for a desperately-needed heart operation for his son. He was sold to the US military by Pakistani bounty hunters in Islamabad.
He was then transferred to American jails in Afghanistan before being sent to Guantánamo Bay.
Ahmed Errachidi had been held in Guantánamo Bay for over 5 years, during which he earned himself the nickname “The General” for his good English and organising other prisoners in actions against prison guards.
He spent three years in constant solitary confinement, the longest of any Guantánamo detainee, for refusing to cooperate with the prison authorities.
Ahmed Errachidi took part in the hunger strike in 2006 to protest his innocence.
In March 2007, the American government corroborated that and cleared him for immediate release as he poses NO threat to security whatsoever - this was after 5 YEARS PLUS of detention without charge or trial.
The British government has obtusely refused to seek the return of the ten British residents to the UK, although they secured the return of an Iraqi, Bisher El-Rawi, in March 2007.
Ahmed Errachidi was released on 24 April 2007 to Morocco where he subsequently “disappeared” upon arrival. “Disappearances” are common in Morocco, a country which is well known for its practice of torture and repression. Binyam Mohammed, a fellow British resident, was tortured in Morocco for several months, en route to Guantánamo.
Take action! Write to the British Foreign Secretary (the least she can now do is press the Moroccan authorities to reveal his whereabouts) and the Moroccan Authorities (in English, French or Arabic) asking: - for Ahmed’s whereabouts to be revealed - for assurances to be provided that he is safe and not facing torture or any other forms of degrading and inhuman treatment - for Ahmed to be granted immediate access to medical care, his family and lawyers - to demand that Ahmed Errachidi be charged with recognisable legal offences or released IMMEDIATELY
Sample letter to Moroccan authorities: (feel free to adapt and/or write your own) Dear, I am writing to you concerning Ahmed Errachidi. Ahmed is a 41 year old Moroccan national who was returned to your country from Guantánamo Bay on Tuesday 24 April where he disappeared immediately upon arrival. His current whereabouts are still unknown and I am concerned for his physical and mental wellbeing. Ahmed was released after 5 years of detention without charge or trial at Guantánamo Bay after the American authorities acknowledged that he was innocent and has no links to terrorism. Ahmed was unjustly detained for five years. I call you on you to make his whereabouts known immediately and to provide me with assurances that he is safe and is not facing torture or any other forms of degrading and inhuman treatment. I demand that Ahmed be granted immediate access to medical care, his family and lawyers. Ahmed Errachidi is an innocent man and has already been wrongly detained for five years; I therefore call you on charge Ahmed Errachidi with recognisable offences for which you have proof or to release him immediately. Please take action to uphold Ahmed’s human rights now.
Yours sincerely, Write to:
His Majesty King Mohammad VI King of Morocco The Royal Palace Rabat, The Kingdom of Morocco Fax: + 212 37 76 85 15 (Greeting: Your Majesty)
Mohamed Bouzoubaa Minister of Justice Place El-Mamounia Rabat, Morocco (Greeting: Your Excellency)
Moroccan Embassy in the UK HE Mohammed Belmahi The Moroccan Embassy 49 Queen’s Gates Gardens London, SW7 5NE Fax: + 44 20 7225 3862
or the one below if this does not work ihilan@yahoo. co.uk
Sample letter to Margaret Beckett: (feel free to adapt and/or write your own)
Dear,
I am writing to you concerning Ahmed Errachidi. Ahmed is a 41 year old Moroccan national who was returned to Morocco from Guantánamo Bay on Tuesday 24 April where he disappeared immediately upon arrival. His current whereabouts are still unknown and I am concerned for his physical and mental wellbeing.
Ahmed lived in Holloway, North London; he had lived in the UK for 18 years and was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in the late 1990s. He has two children who are British nationals. Ahmed was released after 5 years of detention without charge or trial at Guantánamo Bay after the American authorities acknowledged that he was innocent and has no links to terrorism. Ahmed was unjustly detained for five years.
I call on you to take immediate steps to determine his whereabouts and ensure his immediate return to Britain. You would need to take urgent action to ensure against any form of degrading and inhuman treatment. Additionally The British Foreign office must try and get access to Ahmed Errachidi as soon as possible to confirm his safety and security. I hope you will take immediate action to uphold Ahmed’s human rights now
Yours sincerely,
Write to: The British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, SW1A AH Fax: + 44 20 7839 2417
Margaret Beckett, the British Foriegn Secretary, announced on thursday the 29th March the immenent release of Bisher Al-Rawi. His release is welcomed by all, specially the campaigners and family members of the British residents still held at Guantanamo.
The Brighton campaigner, Jackie Chase, from the campaign group Save Omar, said: "We really welcome the Foreign Secretary's announcement that Bisher al-Rawi can come home at last. His family must be immensely relieved.
Jackie Chase went on to say that the statement the Foriegn Secretary made in the House of Commons has very important implications for Omar's family and his supporters in Brighton.
If she can talk to the US about the release of Mr al-Rawi, if she can have all those extensive discussions she referred to then surely she could do the same for Omar and all the British residents. It is an important precedent.
Omar's brother, Abubaker Deghayes, added: "It is good to see someone getting out of there. It is proof the British government can ease the suffering of the detainees if it wanted. There is no reason for them to suffer anymore."
The release of Mr al-Rawi, which is likely to happen during the next 24 hours, will bring the number of British residents still inside the Guantanamo Bay jail to eight.
Since our protest outside Starbuck's in Ocober last year and several letters the campaign has received a reply of some sort from Starbuck's management.
Birmingham Guantanamo Campaign called for a protest outside Starbuck's in Birmingham city centre for saturday the 21st October 2006. Several other organisations and individuals in the city joined the protest and stood outside the Sturbuck's cafe for two hours distributing leaflets with information linking Starbuck's with Guantanamo by supplying coffee to the American army to the prison at Guantanamo.
Protesters also collected signatures for a petition asking Birmingham Council to demand that the British government does everything possible to secure the release of all the British residents still detained at Guantanamo and get the prison closed.
Quite a few of the shoppers, on hearing the case for boycotting Starbuck because of their policy of supplying coffee at Guantanamo, walked away from the cafe and signed our petition calling for the closure of Guantanamo. The management of the cafe called the Police, who on arrival tried to intimidate the protesters into abondoning their protest. Threats of arrest were made. However, the protesters stood firm. The police decided to allow the protest to continue and left leaving a couple of community police persons watching the protesters from a distance. The protest was successful in convincing quite a few of the consumers from going into Starbuck's cafe. The campaign will be following the protest with a letter to the executive of Starbuck's and if their response is not satisfactory we aim to continue our protest outside starbuck's establishments until they change their policy of supplying coffee to the American army at Guantanamo.
The campaign has since written a letter to Starbuck's management asking them to close their operation at Guantanamo. We await their response. Please download the copy of the letter(Click Here to download the letter) and send one yourself to the address provided. If you receive a reply email to
Campaigners, family members of Guantanamo detainees and ex-Guantanamo detainees all joined together across the country to protest at the continued inprisonment of around 400 detainees at Guantanamo.
In Birmingham, campaigners from the city and surrounding areas came together to protest outside Hiatts that supplies chains used at Guantanamo. Hiatts were suppliers of chains and collars to the Slave trade. Seize the day led the protesters in singing Shackle-Shuffle. They ended singing " Happy Birthday " expressing the hope that Guantanamo does not make the sixth birthday. Click here for more details on Seize The Day
David Nicholls expressed the hope that members of Parliament would follow in the footsteps of William Wilberforce who two hundred years ago led a successful campaign banning slavery in Britain and stop the trade supplying instruments of torture. He termed William Wilberforce his kind of MP.
Abubaker Deghayes spoke about the plight of his brother still held at Guantanamo. Abubaker asked the British administration to do everything possible to bring Omar, his brother, back home to England.
Sandy Mitchell spoke about his experience in the Saudi prison where he was shackled using the shackles manufactured at Hiatts. He also said how he felt betrayed by his own government that failed to back him when he sued the Saudi regime for illegal imprisonment and torture.
Raghib Ahsan, a Respect candidate for the Birmingham Council spoke on behalf of the local residents calling for the closure of Guantanamo and an end to trade in instruments of torture including the chains used at Guantanamo.
Protesters tried to deliver a birthday cake to the factory but the management refused to open the office doors. In the end Sandy Mitchell returned his shackles through the letter box and the protesters retreated to a meeting point at a local university where they heard in detail from Abubaker Deghayes the plight of Guantanamo detainees and his brother. They discussed what can be done to force the British government to ensure the safe and immediate return of all the British residents detained at Guantanamo.
In Edinburgh, campaigners met at the scottish parliament to mark the fifth anniversary of the arrival of the first prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The meeting issued a statement committing to urgently press for the closure of the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and for other centers where people are detained without charge or trial as part of the "war on terror" Click here for the details of the meeting and the statement
In London, Amnesty international led over three hundred protesters in a mock demonstration of Guantanamo outside American embassy. The protesters demanded immediate closure of Guantanamo and the release of all its detainees. More Pictures with some very good accompanying music
In Cuba itself, protesters from across the world, including family members of some of the detainees marched to Guantanamo from the capital Havana and demanded the closure of the prison there and the release of all its detainees. Among the protesters were Cindy Sheehan, Tahir Deghayes, brother of Omar Deghayes and his mother. Also, among the protesters outside Guantanamo was Asif Iqbal, an ex-detainee at Guantanamo.
The National Coalition
Birmingham Guantanamo Campaign called for a protest outside Starbuck's in Birmingham city centre for saturday the 21st October 2006. Several other organisations and individuals in the city joined the protest and stood outside the Sturbuck's cafe for two hours distributing leaflets with information linking Starbuck's with Guantanamo by supplying coffee to the American army to the prison at Guantanamo. 
The management of the cafe called the Police, who on arrival tried to intimidate the protesters into abondoning their protest. Threats of arrest were made. However, the protesters stood firm. The police decided to allow the protest to continue and left leaving a couple of community police persons watching the protesters from a distance. The protest was successful in convincing quite a few of the consumers from going into Starbuck's cafe. The campaign will be following the protest with a letter to the executive of Starbuck's and if their response is not satisfactory we aim to continue our protest outside starbuck's establishments until they change their policy of supplying coffee to the American army at Guantanamo. 
Campaigners, family members of Guantanamo detainees and ex-Guantanamo detainees all joined together across the country to protest at the continued inprisonment of around 400 detainees at Guantanamo. 
chains used at Guantanamo. Hiatts were suppliers of chains and collars to the Slave trade. Seize the day led the protesters in singing Shackle-Shuffle. They ended singing " Happy Birthday " expressing the hope that Guantanamo does not make the sixth birthday. Click here for more details on 
In Cuba itself, protesters from across the world, including family members of some of the detainees marched to Guantanamo from the capital Havana and demanded the closure of the prison there and the release of all its detainees. Among the protesters were Cindy Sheehan, Tahir Deghayes, brother of Omar Deghayes and his mother. Also, among the protesters outside Guantanamo was Asif Iqbal, an ex-detainee at Guantanamo.