MEPs call on EU to take lead on Guantanamo resettlement

12.00.00pm GMT Wed 12th Dec 2007

In adopting a resolution on terrorism in Strasbourg today, the European Parliament included an amendment sponsored by Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford calling on EU governments and the European Commission to play a proactive role in the resettlement of Guantanamo Bay detainees who are neither being tried fairly nor capable of returning to their own countries for fear of persecution or torture.

Sarah Ludford, who is Liberal Democrat Justice and Human Rights Spokeswoman, said:

"The European Parliament has consistently condemned kidnapping, torture and 'black hole' or secret detention as being utterly beyond the bounds of legal and civilised behaviour. But we have equally insisted that if there is sound evidence of terrorist activities, suspects must be put on trial in a proper criminal jurisdiction and given the rights of due process.

"Guantanamo Bay kangaroo courts do not meet that test and so we pressed the EU to call for the camp's closure and the release of any prisoners not being fairly tried. Having done that, the EU must be part of the solution in resettling these men and help the US get out of the hole it has dug itself into.

"Even the US courts have said that some of them cannot now be returned to their countries for fear of persecution or torture, so unless there is an international humanitarian effort they will rot in legal limbo. Only the EU can and must take the lead in finding a safe destination for them."