11 January 2010
Leading human rights organizations today urged more
European states to accept detainees held at the US detention centre at
Guantánamo who cannot be returned to their countries of origin for fear of
torture or other human rights violations.
On the eighth anniversary of the first transfers to
Guantánamo, the organisations urged other countries, including Germany,
Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg to do more to aid the transfer of roughly 50
such men who remain trapped after years of unlawful detention.
“Although several countries have already led the way,
it is disappointing that only a few European governments have stepped forward
to help those in need of protection,” said Sharon Critoph, Campaigner on the US
at Amnesty International “Amongst those governments which have failed to assist
are those previously most vocal in calling for Guantánamo to be closed.”
Reprieve, the Center for Constitutional Rights and
former Guantánamo detainee Moazzam Begg of the organization Cage Prisoners are
today beginning a tour across Europe urging more states to offer the men a safe
haven. The tour will be hosted by Amnesty International’s national sections.
These men remain detained for the sole reason that
they have no safe place to go. They have been essentially abandoned at
Guantánamo. The plight of these men poses one of the most significant obstacles
to the closure of the detention centre.
A number of European states have already taken the
commendable step of offering a safe haven to such detainees, in line with the
stated aims of the EU-US joint agreement on the closure of Guantánamo. These
include France, Ireland, Portugal, Hungary and Belgium.On this important
anniversary, human rights groups are urging others to follow suit.
The men come from countries such as Libya, Tunisia,
Syria, China and Russia, where they will be at serious risk of torture or other
human rights violations if returned.
The US government has been seeking safe countries
willing to offer these men an opportunity to rebuild their lives and is
primarily responsible for finding solutions for all those held at Guantánamo.
The international community which has repeatedly
called for the detention centre’s closure can however help in realizing this
aim by offering a safe haven to some of these men.
Guantánamo remains a stark symbol of injustice.
Human rights groups have expressed concern that the detention facility
will remain open past 22 January 2010, the date by which US President Barack
Obama had pledged to close it. Unless more European countries step
forward now to help, some of the most vulnerable detainees remain at serious
risk of forcible return to abuse.
''The last decade saw the erosion of the rule of law
and international respect for human rights. Guantánamo stands for all that went
wrong and it must now be closed’’ said Sophie Weller of the Center for
Constitutional Rights.‘‘The men who remain detained because they lack a safe
haven continue, every day to pay the human price for delay and inaction in
achieving this aim.”
“Many European governments have condemned the ongoing
detention of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. Now they can do something about it,”
said Clive Stafford Smith, Director of Reprieve. “Actions really do speak
louder than words in this case; its time to turn the rhetoric into reality and
get Guantánamo closed as soon as possible.”
Background information
The human rights organisations welcomed the actions of
those countries which have already come forward to assist – such as France, Ireland,
Portugal, Belgium, Hungary - but expressed disappointment that others had not
taken concrete steps in line with the EU-US Joint Statement on the Closure of
Guantánamo Bay. The statement, issued on 16 June 2009, expressed the readiness
of certain EU Member States to assist with the reception of former detainees on
a case-by-case basis.
Nearly seven months since this statement was issued,
only seven former detainees have been welcomed into Europe as free men. A
further ten have been sent to Palau and Bermuda, and two have been transferred
to Italy for possible trial. Approximately 50 more still need protection.
The tour will include visits to a number of European
countries - including Luxembourg, Sweden and Germany - which could provide safe
and appropriate reception for detainees from Guantánamo, giving them the chance
to rebuild their lives.
The organizations will also be calling on government
officials in countries which have already accepted detainees to share
expertise, encouragement and examples of good practice with their counterparts
in countries which may be considering following suit.
There are 198 prisoners in total still held in
Guantánamo.
About Reprieve
Reprieve, a
legal action charity, uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners,
from death row to Guantánamo Bay. Reprieve investigates, litigates and
educates, working on the frontline, to provide legal support to prisoners
unable to pay for it themselves. Reprieve promotes the rule of law
around the world, securing each person’s right to a fair trial and saving
lives. Clive Stafford Smith is the founder of Reprieve and has spent 25
years working on behalf of people facing the death penalty in the USA.
Reprieve’s
current casework involves representing 32 prisoners in the US prison at
Guantánamo Bay, working on behalf of prisoners facing the death penalty, and
conducting ongoing investigations into the rendition and the secret detention
of ‘ghost prisoners’ in the so-called ‘war on terror.’
About CCR
CCR has led the legal battle over Guantánamo for the
last eight years – sending the first ever habeas attorney to the base and
sending the first attorney to meet with a former CIA “ghost detainee” there.
CCR has been responsible for organizing and coordinating more than 500 pro bono
lawyers across the country in order to represent the men at Guantánamo,
ensuring that nearly all have the option of legal representation. In addition,
CCR has been working to resettle the approximately 50 men who remain at
Guantánamo because they cannot return to their country of origin for fear of
persecution and torture.
About Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of
people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. The
organization has more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150
countries and regions and carried out work for justice on a wide range of
issues.
Amnesty International members across the world have
been campaigning for the closure of Guantánamo and the end to human rights
abuses committed in the context of counter-terrorism operations.
Contacts
Amnesty International
Josefina Salomón, T:+44 207 413 5562, M:+44 7778 472
116, jsalomon@amnesty.org
Centre for Constitutional Rights
Sophie Weller, T: +44 207 421 1807, M:+44 794 638
2897, sweller@2-3gis.co.uk
Reprieve
Katherine O'Shea, T: +44 207 427 1099, M:+44 7931 592
674, katherine.oshea@reprieve.org.uk
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