Model Motion on Guantanamo for Birmingham City Council

April 24, 2006

On the 13 July 2004 a motion was passed calling on the British Government to honour its responsibilities under international law by insisting on the immediate repatriation of British citizens and five British residents held at Guantanamo Bay.

Since that time, Mozzam Begg and the other British citizens have been released, without charge. But we now know that at least eight British residents are still imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay.

The illlegal regime applied to detainees at Guantanamo undermines the rule of law and various other universally recognised human rights, which are the essence of democratic societies. The absence of any due process at Guantanamo, allegations of abuse, torture and a lack of procedural and legal safeguards are a clear violation of international human rights laws.

Various reports and ex-detainees have highlighted the physical, psychological and religious humiliation and abuse that detainees are subjected to. In light of this well documented evidence there is an urgent need and a duty on the British Government to act on behalf of those detained.

The British residents detained at Guantanamo have lived in Britain for many years and have family members who are British Nationals. Most are refugees fleeing from persecution, including Omar Deghayes, a refugee from Libya who would face immediate danger to his life should he be released from Guantanamo and returned to Libya.

We need to impress on the British government that it owes a duty of care towards its residents and that in the case of the eight British residents still detained at Guantanamo it needs to act now to get them released as a matter of urgency.