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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Questions to be raised about last UK resident in Guantánamo | Questions to be raised about last UK resident in Guantánamo |
| (8 days later) | |
| MPs will tomorrow (24 April) debate the deeply troubling and mysterious case of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident being held in Guantánamo Bay. | MPs will tomorrow (24 April) debate the deeply troubling and mysterious case of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident being held in Guantánamo Bay. |
| Aamer, who was born in Saudi Arabia, was rendered to Guantánamo on February 14 2002 — the day his fourth child was born – and has been held in in solitary confinement. | Aamer, who was born in Saudi Arabia, was rendered to Guantánamo on February 14 2002 — the day his fourth child was born – and has been held in in solitary confinement. |
| He has not been charged with any offence. William Hague, the foreign secretary, has many times raised the case with the US administration with no success. | He has not been charged with any offence. William Hague, the foreign secretary, has many times raised the case with the US administration with no success. |
| He was twice cleared for release by the US authorities before Washington introduced a new obstacle whereby the American defence secretary had to certify that Britain is a safe place for him to return to, and that he will commit no future crimes. | He was twice cleared for release by the US authorities before Washington introduced a new obstacle whereby the American defence secretary had to certify that Britain is a safe place for him to return to, and that he will commit no future crimes. |
| Despite British government protests, this is something the US military has been unwilling to do. | Despite British government protests, this is something the US military has been unwilling to do. |
| Aamer has described how he was tortured at the infamous Bagram jail in Afghanistan in between being questioned by US and British intelligence officials there. | Aamer has described how he was tortured at the infamous Bagram jail in Afghanistan in between being questioned by US and British intelligence officials there. |
| According to leaked alleged confessions, while he was in London Aamer was "assessed to be a key member of the UK-based al-Qaida network with multiple associations to senior al-Qaida members". They allegedly included Osama bin Laden. | According to leaked alleged confessions, while he was in London Aamer was "assessed to be a key member of the UK-based al-Qaida network with multiple associations to senior al-Qaida members". They allegedly included Osama bin Laden. |
| Shaker has denied the claims made about him. | Shaker has denied the claims made about him. |
| The human rights charity Reprieve says that Shaker has now joined the widespread hunger strike at Guantanámo Bay. | The human rights charity Reprieve says that Shaker has now joined the widespread hunger strike at Guantanámo Bay. |
| On 11 April Shaker spoke to his lawyer, Reprieve director, Clive Stafford Smith, and described the treatment to which he has been subjected since deciding to strike. | On 11 April Shaker spoke to his lawyer, Reprieve director, Clive Stafford Smith, and described the treatment to which he has been subjected since deciding to strike. |
| He said that "They are killing us, so it is hard to keep calm…in reality I am dying inside." | He said that "They are killing us, so it is hard to keep calm…in reality I am dying inside." |
| Stafford Smith said: "Shaker's own government has been saying that they want him back home to his family where he belongs; yet unfortunately there are subversive forces even in the UK who have a different agenda. | Stafford Smith said: "Shaker's own government has been saying that they want him back home to his family where he belongs; yet unfortunately there are subversive forces even in the UK who have a different agenda. |
| "Some MI6 agents want him to go to Saudi Arabia where he won't be able to talk any more to the Metropolitan police about all the things he has witnessed. But a man who has been effectively declared innocent can not be locked away forever to save national embarrassment. Shaker must be returned to London at once." | "Some MI6 agents want him to go to Saudi Arabia where he won't be able to talk any more to the Metropolitan police about all the things he has witnessed. But a man who has been effectively declared innocent can not be locked away forever to save national embarrassment. Shaker must be returned to London at once." |
| Wednesday's Commons debate was tabled by Jane Ellison, MP for Battersea, South London, where Shaker's British wife and four British children live. | Wednesday's Commons debate was tabled by Jane Ellison, MP for Battersea, South London, where Shaker's British wife and four British children live. |
| The Foreign Office must surely explain why Aamer is not being released. | The Foreign Office must surely explain why Aamer is not being released. |
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