Bahraini ‘efforts should be emulated’
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/08/22/10148188.html
08/23/2007 01:06 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: The US lawyer who defended the six Bahrainis formerly detained at Guantanamo has called upon governments that have citizens at the prison to emulate the efforts of Bahrain to secure their release.
“We wish to recognise the efforts of the Bahraini government in negotiating with the US for the return of our clients and note that these efforts could be emulated by other governments that have citizens at Guantanamo,” Joshua Colangelo-Bryan yesterday said in a statement sent to the press by rights activist Nabeel Rajab.
Bahraini ‘efforts should be emulated’
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/08/22/10148188.html
08/23/2007 01:06 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: The US lawyer who defended the six Bahrainis formerly detained at Guantanamo has called upon governments that have citizens at the prison to emulate the efforts of Bahrain to secure their release.
“We wish to recognise the efforts of the Bahraini government in negotiating with the US for the return of our clients and note that these efforts could be emulated by other governments that have citizens at Guantanamo,” Joshua Colangelo-Bryan yesterday said in a statement sent to the press by rights activist Nabeel Rajab.
Eisa Al Murbati, the last of the six Bahrainis kept at the infamous prison in Cuba, returned home on August 8.
Three were released in 2005, one in 2006 and Juma Al Dossari, the most poignant symbol of desperation over years of legal limbo in US captivity, was released last July.
The Bahraini government, particularly the foreign ministry, as well as rights activists and an ad-hoc committee were credited with their repatriation, with the lawyer paying them rich tribute.
However, New-York-based Colangelo-Bryan warned that the return from Guantanamo to a normal life was a difficult process that warranted special efforts.
Transition
“We hope that the government and the people of Bahrain make every effort to assist our clients in this transition, as the government of Saudi Arabia is doing in the case of Juma Al Dossari. Only when that happens can Bahrain truly close its Guantanamo file,” the lawyer said in his statement relayed to Gulf News by rights activist Nabeel Rajab.
Mohammad Khalid, the MP who headed the popular committee to support the detainees, on Tuesday said that only one of the former prisoners had problems re-integrating into society.
“We have kept in close touch with four of the detainees, and we are delighted with the way they have been able to pick up the pieces and resume their normal lives after their painful ordeal at Guantanamo. Unfortunately, only one of them is suffering from emotional distress and he is having a hard time overcoming it,” he said.