Report/Pics-Guantánamo Anniversary Vigil Outside US Embassy

... street theatre piece as performed by the Save Omar Campaign outside the US Embassy, London, on 8 February

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY: 12-2PM: DEMO OUTSIDE SPANISH EMBASSY

07 February 2008

PRESS RELEASE

- FARID HILALI’S LOSES APPEAL AGAINST EXTRADITION!!!!
- SPAIN SEEKS EXTRADITION FOR EX-GUANTANAMO DETAINEE’S!!!!!

Farid Hilali a 39 year old Moroccan last week lost his 4 year battle appealing against an extradition request by the Spanish Authorities. His lawyers have stated that they will be taking the matters to the EU.

Mr. Hilali has been living in the UK on and off for approximately 15 years, and was originally known to the British Security Services whilst detained in the United Arab Emirates in 1999 when he was asked to become a spy. He states it is this very refusal that saw him sent back to his native Morocco where he faced torture and abuse, as did his family members. Farid returned to the UK during 2000, and was arrested in 2003 under the Terrorism Act – it was at this point that he made a claim for Asylum.

He has never been charged with any offence under the Terrorism act.

In April of 2004 he was issued with a Arrest Warrant issued by the Spanish Authorities for his alleged involvement in the September 11th 2001 bombings of the World Trade Centres. To date Spain has arrested many people in connection with the 9/11 attacks, however to date no one has been convicted for these allegations.

Mr. Hilali has now for almost a decade suffered abuse of his human rights, by the international governments of Britain, Morocco, UAE and now Spain. Countries from 4 different continents for almost a decade have continued to harass a man who to date has not been charged or convicted of any crime! For which the only reason can be is to have him returned to Morocco where like many others he will be away from the public arena and like many others become a Ghost Detainee, to be tortured and possibly even worse at the oppressive Moroccan regime.

Spain seeks Extradition of Ex-Guantanamo detainees

Following 5 years of illegal imprisonment and torture, Omar Deghayes and Jamil Al-Bana’s returned to the UK from Guantanamo Bay only to be faced with an extradtion appeal from Spain, who claim the two are members of an Al-Qaeda cell there.

It has come to light that the Spanish Authorites were also involved during their incarceration whilst at Guantanamo Bay, assisting the US in the transportation of the two men to Guantanamo Bay, and are also accused of being involved in interrogations that took place there.

Spanish Record of Abuse


Spain has a well known record for abuse and torture within its prisons with special isolation units with the prisons known as F.I.E.S units which are experiments of various degrees of psychological torture, dehumanization and constant physical torture, beatings and insults. The last statistics show that since 1991 at least 20 people have been killed in these isolation units. There are records of Spanish Prisoners spending 13 years of a 25 year sentence in isolation – as well as inmates being threatened of being infected with HIV and threats that their partners would be arrested and raped.

This is the tip of the iceberg and whilst the UK are well aware of Spains track record for abuse and torture in its Prisons it is hard to conceive that such appeals are being entertained.


These men like many others are prisoners of faith, who are innocent victims of global farce which has come to be known as the war on terror.

We therefore urge you to come and show your support for these victims on the War on Terror, JOIN THE LONDON GUANTANAMO CAMPAIGN & THE MUSLIM PRISONER SUPPORT GROUP OUTSIDE THE SPANISH EMBASSY 39 Chesham Place, SW1 at noon on Tuesday, 12 February 2008.

Organised by the Muslim Prisoner Support Group, the London Guantánamo Campaign and the Save Omar Campaign.

Enquiries to Khadijah Aadam from The Muslim Prisoner Support Group: 07960 076 099  khadijahaadam@btinternet.com

www.muslimprisonersupport.com

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THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY: 10AM: DEMO OUTSIDE HORSEFERRY ROAD MAGISTRATES COURT

Hearts and Flowers to ward off the Spanish Inquisition: Omar Deghayes and Jamil El-Banna, both released with no charges from Guantanamo Bay in Dec 2007 will appear in Westminster Magistrates Court, Horseferry Road, London on Thursday Feb 14th at 10am.The hearing is procedural in connection with the request from Spain for their extradition to face charges there.Members of the Save-Omar Campaign, a community campaign based in Brighton for their fellow resident Omar Deghayes, will be travelling to London where they will be joined by supporters from the National Guantanamo Campaign in a demonstration of Hearts and Flowers outside the court from 9.30am and again after the hearing.Campaign member Jackie Chase said "Omar and Jamil have been wrongfully detained, obscenely tortured and treated despicably for over five years by the United States at Guantanamo and other secret prisons. The Spanish authorities provided to the US the photograph which led to Omar's wrongful detention and was proven to be of a different man. It is time to leave these men alone and let them return to some semblance of a normal life. Omar has many medical issues, including an eye blinded by the guards at Guantanamo, which are at last receiving attention. It would be inhumane to continue to harrang these men any more. The US military should apologize for its mistakes and return its dealings with suspected criminals to an honourable and transparent system of due process so rebuilding trust and respect." For further information contact www.save-omar.org.uk or Jackie Chase on 07799564620