The UK’s two Green Euro-MPs have called on President Sarkozy, the Foreign Office, the President of the European Parliament this week urging ministers to raise the case of a British resident incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay with US authorities at the G8 summit.
Jean Lambert, MEP for London, and Dr Caroline Lucas, MEP for the South East, are demanding that UK and EU representatives question American officials over the continued detention of Binyam Mohamed, who was reportedly captured in a process of ‘extraordinary rendition’.
Mr Mohamed has been held without trial by the US for over 6 years and is currently detained in Guantanamo Bay. He is suffering horrendous psychological trauma and is awaiting a decision about his case coming before a military commission.
Jean Lambert MEP said:
"Binyam Mohammed, a former London resident, has suffered the most atrocious and inhumane treatment since he was first detained, including being slashed across his body and genitals with a razor blade. He has now been detained without trial for over six years, is severely depressed and close to a complete mental breakdown.
"The only known evidence against him has been obtained during periods of torture and so is both unreliable and inadmissible. Any conviction based on such evidence would be wholly unsafe and unacceptable. International law must be upheld and all prisoners must have access to a fair trial in civilian courts. So far, there has been an appalling lack of any legal protection or rights for detainees.
"In this, the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call on the EU to prioritise the immediate release of Binyam Mohamed and all other prisoners who have been held for so long without charge. This ongoing illegal imprisonment simply gives the green light for oppressive regimes around the world to follow the US example and disregard human rights."
Dr Lucas MEP added:
"The appalling treatment of Binyam Mohamed by the American authorities is a clear breach of international human rights law. A military trial will potentially result in a death sentence being handed down and will even further undermine the rule of law.
"The G8 summit in Japan is an ideal opportunity for ministers from the UK and the EU to demonstrate their commitment to humanitarian justice by questioning US officials over his continued detention and, indeed, to request the closure of the Guantanamo facility itself.
"I also call on the UK government to release information it has in its possession to show Mr Mohamed was a victim of extraordinary rendition, which could lead to his release.
"The British authorities have worked hard to secure the release of other UK residents detained in Guantanamo, including one of my constituents Omar Deghayes. I now urge them to speak up for the remaining detainee, whose story reveals the most horrific physical and emotional abuse as well as illegal rendition."