Europe must help resettle Guantanamo prisoners

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Sep 2007

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford this week joined with MEPs from other political groups in calling on EU member states to honour their legal and moral obligations and grant asylum to around 50 Guantanamo Bay prisoners who the US wants to remove but who would face potential persecution and torture if returned to their home countries.

Many of them have been 'cleared for release' by the US administration but languish still in Guantanamo trapped by inaction because even the US recognises it is too dangerous to send them back to their countries of origin.

Others are at real risk of being returned to countries they fled. They include UK residents Jamil el-Banna who is threatened with return to Jordan and Omar Deghayes, who risks being shipped to Libya. This is despite credible fears for their safety as well as separation from their families.

Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg Sarah Ludford commented:

"These people have already been detained without charge or trial for more than five years, many of them handed over to US forces by bounty hunters. They see fellow detainees forcibly returned to countries with records of horrific human rights abuses to face the prospect of torture or death."

"European governments, which did belatedly get round to calling for the closure of Guantanamo, should help close this ugly chapter of lawlessness. There is no point in flabby EU rhetoric about human rights values unless specific opportunities are seized to practise as well as preach. Complicity in the whole torture flight and secret prison programme also puts moral responsibility on Europe."

"The landmark change of policy last month whereby the British government called for the release and UK resettlement of 5 UK residents including my constituents Jamil el-Banna and Omar Deghayes, is welcome if horribly belated. Considering that Jamil's arrest in the Gambia along with Bisher al-Rawi who returned from Guantanamo a few months ago was based on false information from British intelligence to the CIA, this is the least they can do. But Brown must put forceful pressure on Bush to get these men reunited with their families in London."