London Guantánamo Newswire Archive

24-01-2015 23:59

Open letter to Philip Hammond demanding the release of Shaker Aamer

This is an open letter to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to demand the immediate release of Shaker Aamer who has been illegally detained in Guantanamo for an incredible 13 years without charge. Read more >>

17-04-2013 09:22

Tomorrow: emergency demo in Solidarity with Guantánamo Hunger Strikers

[Description]

The London Guantánamo Campaign invites you to an emergency demonstration

outside the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE
(nearest underground: Bond Street/Marble Arch)

on Thursday 18 April
at 6-8pm
open mic and banners - feel free to bring your own

in support of the Guantánamo Hunger Strikers
now in their third month of protest at
11 years of torture, abuse and arbitrary detention

The current hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay, now in its 11th week, turned nasty at the weekend, when new orders were issued to separate prisoners, resulting in an invasion of their cells and plastic bullets being fired at prisoners allegedly putting up resistance, in spite of being weakened after 11 weeks without food. Their lawyers report that some have lost over 30lb in weight in that time and the US Defense Department states that at least 13 are being force fed. Nearly all the prisoners are on hunger strike. Most have been held without charge or trial for over 11 years with little prospect of release. Read more >>

13-03-2013 09:03

Emergency Protest At Current Hunger Strike At Guantanamo Bay

Almost all of the 166 prisoners at Guantánamo Bay have been on hunger strike since early February. This protest which has led to force feeding against the human rights of prisoners and some prisoners losing over 15kg in weight was prompted by the confiscation of personal items from cells and the desecration of copies of the Koran. The situation is desperate, according to their lawyers, yet there has been no mainstream media coverage and little outcry from the international human rights NGO community. Come and join our protest on Sunday. Read more >>

06-01-2013 20:36

11 Years of Guantánamo: Where is the world?

On Friday 11th January, the London Guantánamo Campaign invites you to join us in this part of the world to mark the 11th anniversary of the opening of the Guantánamo Bay prison camp. Falling just days before Barack Obama is inaugurated for his second presidential term, he has made it harder to close Guantánamo Bay by signing into law the National Defense Authorization Act 2013, imposing restrictions on the transfer of prisoners for another year. This year: take action and make a difference. With less than a week to go, there is still much you can do: Read more >>

09-12-2012 22:57

On 11th January 2013, All Roads Lead to Guantánamo (11th anniversary action)

On 11th January 2013, the 11th anniversary of the opening of the illegal prison camp at Guantánamo, "All Roads Lead to Guantánamo": a day of action organised by the London Guantánamo Campaign
Get involved: in person and online. Obama hasn't closed Guantánamo: 166 prisoners remain. Take action!
Read more >>

09-12-2012 22:44

London Vigil to Mark Human Rights Day

Tomorrow marks the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: are rights still important? The London Guantánamo Campaign invites everyone to join us for a vigil to mark this date and in a reading of the articles of the UDHR Read more >>

09-01-2012 13:38

Shut Guantánamo - End Ten Years of Shame" - Report

On Saturday 7 January, the weekend before the tenth anniversary of the opening of the illegal prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, over 200 people from London and other parts of the UK converged outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square to mark this unfortunate day in history and to stand in solidarity with the 171 prisoners who remain there. Organised by the London Guantánamo Campaign (LGC), the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign (SSAC), the Stop the War Coalition (StWC) and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)

31-05-2011 14:55

Squaring up to Guantanamo

A recent flurry of activity by the London Guantanamo Campaign (LGC) and its supporters sought to capitalise on President Obama's UK state visit (24-26 May) and the Royal Wedding (29 April) to press home two of their key demands:

1. The return of two men with ties to the UK still being held in Guantanamo indefinitely without charge, namely former British residents Shaker Aamer and Ahmed Belbacha;

2. The closure of Guantanamo, Bagram and other illegal US detention facilities.

The group's activities included two living statues actions on box plinths in Parliament Square, a petition hand-delivered to 10 Downing Street, a protest outside Buckingham Palace and a statement signed by prominent individuals and organisations.

Pre-Royal Wedding Statues in Parliament Square - 27-28 April

Individuals associated with LGC and Peace Strike, dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods, posed for several hours atop Peace Strikes’s boxes-cum-plinths in Parliament Square in the days leading up to the Royal Wedding, catching the attention of hordes of visitors and photographers.

Photos

Video

Obama State Visit - 24-26 May

Downing Street Petition - Monday 23 May

On the day before Obama's arrival in the UK from his trip to Ireland, Maria Gallastegui from Peace Strike delivered a petition by hand to 10 Downing Street calling on the Prime Minister to raise the cases of Shaker Aamer and Ahmed Belbacha and demand the closure of Guantánamo during his talks with the US President.

Buckingham Palace - Tuesday 24 May Several LGC supporters joined a protest outside Buckingham Palace organised by the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign as Obama banqueted with the Queen. The demonstration took place alongside those of the Stop the War coalition and others. Among the orange-suited protesters were a pair wearing Obama and Cameron masks, which caught the attention of the multitude of photographers and reporters who were present, including those of the *Associated Press, who reported the following:

"Just beyond the palace's black-and-gold gates, about a dozen orange-jumpsuit clad demonstrators were rallying for the freedom of Guantamano [sic] Bay detainee Shaker Aamer, a former British resident who had been held without charge for some nine years. One man wore plastic shackles and an Obama mask."

Photos:

Parliament Square Statues Mk II - Wednesday 25 May

On the second day of Obama’s state visit, the London Guantánamo Campaign and Peace Strike held a day-long vigil in Parliament Square. Three LGC supporters, dressed once again in orange jumpsuits, one wearing an Obama mask (and sometimes a Cameron mask) and shackles and the other two wearing black hoods, posed for six hours straight atop Peace Strikes's boxes-cum-plinths as Obama addressed the two houses inside the Palace of Westminster. The protesters would have been visible to the President and his entourage as the motorcade drove out of the gates.

Photos:

http://tinyurl.com/3lvapj9

http://www.demotix.com/news/704093/protesters-against-obama-action-london?destination=search/context/query/guantanamo%20parliament%20obama/sort/relevance

http://www.demotix.com/news/703920/guantanamo-bay-activists-protest-outside-parliament
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL_ru8YbXS8

Joint Statement

Finally, the LGC put out a short statement addressed to the Prime Minister, signed by nearly 50 prominent campaigners, politicians, human rights lawyers, former Guantánamo prisoners and others. Amongst the signatories were journalists John Pilger and Andy Worthington; actress Kika Markham; John McDonnell MP; Jean Lambert MEP, Sarah Ludford MEP; and CND's Kate Hudson. The letter called upon David Cameron to use the occasion of President Obama's visit to press for the closure of Guantánamo Bay and the return to the UK of Shaker Aamer and Ahmed Belbacha. It was sent to the Guardian and Independent newspapers, but not published by either.

You can view the text of the letter and the full list of signatories here: http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com/2011/05/unpublished-letters-from-obamas-visit.html

LGC also issued a press release ahead of Obama's arrival in the UK: http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com/2011/05/press-release-campaigners-urge-prime.html

In addition, Aisha Maniar from the LGC had a comment piece published on the Open Democracy website: http://www.opendemocracy.org.uk/ourkingdom/aisha-maniar/guantanamo-bay-shadow-cast-over-special-relationship

See also:

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2011/05/26/during-obamas-uk-visit-shaker-aamers-children-and-campaigners-call-for-his-return-from-guantanamo

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2011/05/23/during-state-visit-by-barack-obama-amnesty-international-asks-david-cameron-to-call-for-return-from-guantanamo-of-shaker-aamer

Upcoming LGC events:

Shut Down Guantánamo monthly demonstration

The LGC’s monthly demonstrations continue, with the next one taking place on Friday, 3 June:

12 - 1pm - US Embassy, Grosvenor Square (opposite main entrance)
1.15 - 2.15pm - Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park (on pavement outside)

Rally to mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture - Sunday 26 June, Trafalgar Square

This rally is being organised with Kingston Peace Council. Confirmed speakers include: Andy Worthington, author of The Guantánamo Files and co-director of Outside the Law: Stories from Guantánamo; Maya Evans from Justice Not Vengeance; Ilyas Townsend from the Justice for Aafia Coalition; Naomi Colvin from UK Friends of Bradley Manning; and Maria Gallastegui from Peace Strike.

Further details:
http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com/2011/05/26-june-public-rally-in-support-of.html

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225756180784961#!/event.php?eid=225756180784961

Other actions you can take:

Add your name to the LGC’s open letter to President Obama regarding Shaker Aamer: http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com/2011/03/sign-our-open-letter-to-president-obama.html

Ask your MP to sign EDM 1093 on Guantánamo Bay: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-11/1093

Links:

London Guantánamo Campaign
http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com
http://londonguantanamo.org.uk

Peace Strike
http://peacestrike.org

Andy Worthington’s blog
http://www.andyworthington.co.uk

18-09-2008 18:55

From Ladbroke Grove to Guantánamo Bay: Iftar in solidarity with Binyam Mohamed

Binyam, the last Londoner in Guantanamo Bay, lived in west London for over seven years and worked at the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre. After six and a half years of illegal detention, torture and extraordinary rendition, Binyam should be observing Ramadan in Lonon with his local community and friends. We invite you to join us for a shared meal and reflect on his plight. This event is open to EVERYONE.
Read more >>

30-08-2008 01:19

Guantánamo torture victim Binyam Mohamed: High Court condemns UK/US policy

Andy Worthington, author of “The Guantánamo Files”, reports on the High Court’s judgment in favour of British resident Binyam Mohamed, in which the judges ruled that the government must hand over evidence relating to his rendition and torture, and the Court’s second judgment on Friday, in which the judges ruled that the government’s attempts to prevent disclosure for reasons of “national security” were insufficient. Read more >>

04-08-2008 14:12

Binyam Mohamed: judges grill MI5 agent and question fairness of Guantánamo trial

Andy Worthington, author of “The Guantánamo Files,” reports on the explosive developments during last week’s judicial review, in the British high court, of the case of British resident and torture victim Binyam Mohamed, imprisoned in Guantánamo and facing a trial by Military Commission. Read more >>

01-08-2008 21:58

Secret “War on Terror” Prison on Diego Garcia Confirmed

Andy Worthington, author of ‘The Guantánamo Files’, reports on the latest confirmation, from deep within the US administration, that a secret prison existed on the British Overseas Territory of Diego Garcia, despite persistent US and UK denials, and profiles the six “high-value detainees” held there and later transferred to Guantánamo, plus the “ghost prisoner” Mustafa Setmariam Nasar. Read more >>

01-07-2008 14:01

Summer in the City - Guantánamo actions in the capital in July '08

Bored in your holidays? Visiting the capital for the summer? Then come and join at some of the many actions we've got planned this month...and take action to help free the last Londoner in Guantánamo Bay Read more >>

15-06-2008 21:02

Guantanamo bay / Binyam Mohamed Protest, London 15.06.08

Images from the protest in London appealing for solidarity with Binyam Mohamed - the last UK resident in Guantanamo bay threatened with the death penalty.
Binyam Mohamed is a refugee from Ethiopia, who was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, was seized in Pakistan and rendered to Morocco, then sent to Afghanistan, and then Guantanamo Bay.
Read more >>

London Guantánamo Newswire Archive

24-01-2015 23:59

Open letter to Philip Hammond demanding the release of Shaker Aamer

17-04-2013 09:22

Tomorrow: emergency demo in Solidarity with Guantánamo Hunger Strikers

13-03-2013 09:03

Emergency Protest At Current Hunger Strike At Guantanamo Bay

06-01-2013 20:36

11 Years of Guantánamo: Where is the world?

09-12-2012 22:57

On 11th January 2013, All Roads Lead to Guantánamo (11th anniversary action)

09-12-2012 22:44

London Vigil to Mark Human Rights Day

09-01-2012 13:38

Shut Guantánamo - End Ten Years of Shame" - Report

31-05-2011 14:55

Squaring up to Guantanamo

18-09-2008 18:55

From Ladbroke Grove to Guantánamo Bay: Iftar in solidarity with Binyam Mohamed

30-08-2008 01:19

Guantánamo torture victim Binyam Mohamed: High Court condemns UK/US policy

04-08-2008 14:12

Binyam Mohamed: judges grill MI5 agent and question fairness of Guantánamo trial

01-08-2008 21:58

Secret “War on Terror” Prison on Diego Garcia Confirmed

01-07-2008 14:01

Summer in the City - Guantánamo actions in the capital in July '08

15-06-2008 21:02

Guantanamo bay / Binyam Mohamed Protest, London 15.06.08

Kollektives

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London IMC

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London Guantánamo Newswire Archive

24-01-2015 23:59

17-04-2013 09:22

13-03-2013 09:03

06-01-2013 20:36

09-12-2012 22:57

09-12-2012 22:44

09-01-2012 13:38

31-05-2011 14:55

18-09-2008 18:55

30-08-2008 01:19

04-08-2008 14:12

01-08-2008 21:58

01-07-2008 14:01

15-06-2008 21:02

Major Coverage

London links

London Links

UK IMCs

Other IMCs

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