It is 11 years since the US opened its concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay and four years since President Obama promised, on first taking office, to close it down. Yet shamefully the camp remains open and 166 men remain in indefinite detention, despite only 23 facing any charges.
86 detainees have actually been cleared for release – some as long ago as 2004 – yet remain locked up without redress. Last year the US passed legislation designed to prevent prisoners being released to any country that it regards as a threat – which covers large swathes of the Muslim world. Others run the risk of torture if repatriated – but the US has made no effort to settle them elsewhere.
One of those cleared for release is Shaker Aamer, a British resident who has been imprisoned without trial for over ten years. Yet he remains in Guantanamo, with neither US officials nor the British Foreign Office making any move to obtain his release. No evidence has ever been produced against him. Sign the petition demanding Shaker Aamer be returned to Britain at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33133
Cat Allison
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 231 February-March 2013
