New Bay push call by group
By geoffrey bew
Published: 11th January 2007
HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have called for a renewed push from governments across the GCC to bring home detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay.
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights vice-president Nabeel Rajab, described the prisoners’ incarceration as an “ongoing humanitarian travesty” and called for the immediate closure of the prison camp and the repatriation of the GCC prisoners being held captive.
Two Bahrainis are among those still being held at the prison camp in Cuba and both have never been charged or put on trial.
New Bay push call by group
By geoffrey bew
Published: 11th January 2007
HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have called for a renewed push from governments across the GCC to bring home detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay.
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights vice-president Nabeel Rajab, described the prisoners’ incarceration as an “ongoing humanitarian travesty” and called for the immediate closure of the prison camp and the repatriation of the GCC prisoners being held captive.
Two Bahrainis are among those still being held at the prison camp in Cuba and both have never been charged or put on trial.
They are Isa Al Murbati, 41, who is being kept at Camp 1, allegedly the highest security section at the prison, after being forced off a hunger strike.
The other, Juma Al Dossary, 32, is being held at the prison camp’s mental health unit and reportedly suffers from a variety of health problems.
He has tried to kill himself 13 times, according to the US military.
Three other Bahrainis, Adel Kamel Hajee, Abdulla Al Nuaimi and Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, were released from Guantanamo in November 2005, while Salah Al Blooshi was released from custody and returned to Bahrain in October last year.
Mr Rajab’s comments came as protests are reportedly being held across the world today to mark the International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo.
Demonstrations are taking place in the UK, Australia, Holland and in the US cities of Washington and New York calling for the closure of the Cuba-based prison camp.
“We urge the governments of the GCC to take similar steps to demand the repatriation of their citizens who are being illegally detained at the prison,” said Mr Rajab.
“This plea is particularly urgent as the world prepares to mark the deplorable fifth anniversary of the day when men were first brought to Guantanamo Bay, on January 11, 2001.
“The Gulf and US governments have long-standing and extensive ties.
“We expect that if this demand were made by such a close ally to the US, it would surely merit some positive action from their government.
“The human rights of detainees and their families have been violated for too long – it is time to bring home the remaining people from Guantanamo Bay.”
Activists say of around 775 detainees who have been held at Guantanamo Bay since it opened, only 10 have been charged for trial by military commissions, which were later ruled unlawful by the US Supreme Court.
Mr Rajab called for a unified voice in the GCC, noting a demand made last month by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who called for the US to hand over the remaining incarcerated Yemenis.
“The Yemeni government’s move should indicate to other countries in the region that they can and should speak out directly on behalf of their own citizens against the US government’s disastrous policy in the ‘war on terror’,” he said.
© Gulf Daily News
