Free Shaker Aamer from Guantánamo
On February 13, 2013, the 11th anniversary of the day that Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in Guantánamo, was sent to the prison, campaigners outside the Houses of Parliament -- myself included -- called for his release. The protest was organised by the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign, and was entitled, "Stand Up for Shaker Aamer." MPs who visited to pledge their support were Caroline Lucas (Green, Brighton Pavilion), Sadiq Khan (Labour, Tooting), John O'Donnell (Labour, Hayes and Harlington) and Shaker's constituency MP, Jane Ellison (Conservative, Battersea).
Shaker, who has a British wife and four British children (the youngest born the day he arrived at Guantánamo), was cleared for release under President Bush in 2007, and again under President Obama in 2009, but is still held, even though the British government claims it has been regularly asking for his return. Campaigners -- myself included -- believe he is still held because he has been an eloquent and passionate champion of the prisoners' human rights, and because he knows more than most about the dark ways in which Guantánamo has operated over the last eleven years.
86 cleared prisoners remain in Guantánamo, out of 166 prisoners in total, and although President Obama faces hurdles in Congress when it comes to releasing prisoners, and has also contributed to the failure to close Guantánamo, as he promised on taking office in January 2009, by backing down when faced with criticism, there is no fundamental obstacle to the release of Shaker Aamer. His ongoing imprisonment is deplorable and unforgivable, and both the American and British governments ought to be profoundly ashamed that he is still held.
For Shaker Aamer's story, see: www.andyworthington.co.uk/2012/02/16/10-years-in-guantana...
Also see my archive here: www.andyworthington.co.uk/category/shaker-aamer/
Please sign the e-petition to the British government here (UK citizens and residents only): epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33133
There is also an international petition here that anyone can sign: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/shaker-aamerguantanamo-bay/
Also see the website of the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign: saveshaker.org/
Free Shaker Aamer from Guantánamo
On February 13, 2013, the 11th anniversary of the day that Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in Guantánamo, was sent to the prison, campaigners outside the Houses of Parliament -- myself included -- called for his release. The protest was organised by the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign, and was entitled, "Stand Up for Shaker Aamer." MPs who visited to pledge their support were Caroline Lucas (Green, Brighton Pavilion), Sadiq Khan (Labour, Tooting), John O'Donnell (Labour, Hayes and Harlington) and Shaker's constituency MP, Jane Ellison (Conservative, Battersea).
Shaker, who has a British wife and four British children (the youngest born the day he arrived at Guantánamo), was cleared for release under President Bush in 2007, and again under President Obama in 2009, but is still held, even though the British government claims it has been regularly asking for his return. Campaigners -- myself included -- believe he is still held because he has been an eloquent and passionate champion of the prisoners' human rights, and because he knows more than most about the dark ways in which Guantánamo has operated over the last eleven years.
86 cleared prisoners remain in Guantánamo, out of 166 prisoners in total, and although President Obama faces hurdles in Congress when it comes to releasing prisoners, and has also contributed to the failure to close Guantánamo, as he promised on taking office in January 2009, by backing down when faced with criticism, there is no fundamental obstacle to the release of Shaker Aamer. His ongoing imprisonment is deplorable and unforgivable, and both the American and British governments ought to be profoundly ashamed that he is still held.
For Shaker Aamer's story, see: www.andyworthington.co.uk/2012/02/16/10-years-in-guantana...
Also see my archive here: www.andyworthington.co.uk/category/shaker-aamer/
Please sign the e-petition to the British government here (UK citizens and residents only): epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33133
There is also an international petition here that anyone can sign: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/shaker-aamerguantanamo-bay/
Also see the website of the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign: saveshaker.org/