Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
Prime Minister in waiting
It might be fair to say that we, in Britain, have traditionally defended the weak and the destitute. We could claim to have contributed to the establishment of human rights systems to protect those who are oppressed, ill-treated, tortured and forgotten. In keeping with our responsibilities towards our fellow man, we have provided a save haven for many whose only crime has been to speak their truth and stand up for justice.
In 1986, the British government demonstrated this will to offer refuge to those in danger elsewhere, following the assassination of Libyan lawyer and a prominent trade unionist, Mr Deghayes in Libya. The family of Mr Deghayes, including his son Omar, was settled in the UK where they were granted political asylum. In 1987 Omar was given refugee status and his family became British citizens. Omar Deghayes grew up in Brighton and studied law in a British university. His ambition is to be a human rights lawyer.
After finishing his Law studies in 2001, Omar and his friends traveled to Malaysia, Pakistan and then on to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Omar was married and his wife later had a son, Suleiman, who is now five years old.
When hostilities broke in October 2001, Omar feared for his family's safety and moved them to Pakistan on his way back to Britain. However, in Pakistan, Omar and his family were arrested and handed over to the US authorities, reportedly for a bounty of US$5,000. Although his wife and son were released, he was taken to US-run prison at Bagram, a place which Omar likened to the Nazi prison camps he had seen in films. He was later transferred to Camp X Ray at Guantanamo Bay where he remains to this day. Omar is one of eight British men currently in Guantanamo. Even though expert evidence has exonerated him by stating that this is a genuine case of mistaken identity (Omar was not the man they were looking for by a startling turn of events, the original suspect has actually now passed away) he is still there. His wife is without her husband, his son without his father.
Omar's case has never been brought to trial and while imprisoned he has repeatedly suffered cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and sometimes torture. Currently and unfortunately we are one of four governments involved in his detention, and we need not be. His detention has resulted in him being denied justice for over five years.
On one occasion, Omar was repeatedly pepper-sprayed in the eyes and face, and a guard forced his finger into one of Omar’s eyes, leaving him blind in that eye. At other times, a jet of high pressure water was sprayed up his nose until he thought he would suffocate. Omar was kept in solitary confinement for over eight months and on the 9th and 11th of September 2004 he was interrogated by Libyan intelligence agents who threatened him with violence and death. In addition, British intelligence agents are reported to have interrogated Omar Deghayes up to seven times while in Bagram and Guantanamo.
Despite the fact that Omar has lived and grown up in the UK, and established many ties, it seems that our government is refusing to get involved or to help and has denied all responsibility for Omar Deghayes, claiming that, as a refugee, he is technically not a British citizen and, therefore, not within its jurisdiction. Our government, quite simply, wiped its hands of him.
When you were in Brighton recently, you kindly agreed to look into this matter.
I am writing to you now to ask that our government make representations on behalf of Omar Deghayes as a British resident with refugee status, and ensure that his family are kept fully informed of his legal status and welfare. We must stand up for justice and show the world that we do not ignore our responsibilities. I also ask for the allegations of torture and ill-treatment that Omar has suffered while in US custody to be raised with the US authorities. Our government must do all that is can to make sure that Omar Deghayes is not transferred to a country where he will face further torture and ill-treatment.
Our history shows that Britain has always supported the oppressed, and we must continue to do so. This is clearly the case with Omar. No one else can help but our own government. Furthermore, please seek assurance from the US authorities that Omar Deghayes is returned to the UK. The US should either release him or charge him with a recognizably criminal offence and give him a full and fair trial, ensuring that evidence gained through torture is not used against him. The US is potentially one of the most important countries in the fight for world peace. It is the one nation that has the economic and political power to put pressure on countries and regimes which are guilty of abuse. The US could make itself the most beloved nation worldwide if only it would step into this role and help safeguard the needy.
It was not long ago when we offered Omar and his family a lifeline from the difficulties they faced in Libya. Today, when he needs us more then ever, let us not turn our back on him.
We ask you as our Prime Minister in waiting to seek justice for him and have him removed from the sentence he is serving for a crime he did not commit.
Yours Sincerely,
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