Guantanamo detainee walks free on return

[Oceans11]

Bay detainee walks free on return


Mr Udeen wants the US for answer for its "injustice"
A Manchester man among the five Britons released from Guantanamo Bay has walked free on his return to the UK.
Jamal Udeen, 37, from Moss Side, landed at RAF Northolt at 1900GMT on Tuesday with the four other inmates.

He was held by immigration officials before being freed three hours later. The others were arrested and taken to a central London police station.

His solicitor said Mr Udeen believed the UK government was 'complicit' in his detention in 'inhumane' conditions.


Robert Lizar said: "He's looking forward to seeing his family very much. However he wants the US authorities to answer for the injustice which he has suffered.

He (Jamal Udeen) wants the US authorities to answer for the injustice which he has suffered

Robert Lizar, Jamal Udeen's solicitor
"He has been detained as an innocent person for a period of two years. He has been treated in a cruel, inhumane and degrading manner, he wants the authorities to answer for that.

"He believes that the UK authorities have also been complicit in terms of being involved in questioning him while in detention and allowing that to continue."

Mr Udeen urged people to raise the plight of those still being detained in Cuba with the US and UK authorities, Mr Lizar added.

The other men who returned on Tuesday were Shafiq Rasul, 24, Asif Iqbal, 20, and Ruhal Ahmed, 21, all of Tipton, West Midlands, and Tarek Dergoul, 24, of east London.

Under the provisions of the Terrorism Act the men can be held for up to 14 days without charge.

Treatment

They will be interviewed by officers from the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorism branch over alleged involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The National Co-ordinator for Terrorism, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, said: "Everything that happens to these men from the moment they entered UK territory is entirely in accordance with British law and the normal procedures will be followed in this case to the letter. "

He explained this means the former Guantanamo prisoners will be given access to legal advice and are entitled to a telephone call.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld defended the decision to send the five home to the UK.


The plane carrying the five released Britons lands at RAF Northolt

He said: "We got what we needed out of this crowd of five people, let's move them along!"

But he suggested the system was not faultless and said: "Of the people who've been released, we know of one who's gone back to being a terrorist. Life isn't perfect."

Speaking in the US on Monday, Home Secretary David Blunkett indicated four other UK detainees would probably face trial in the US as they had been picked up "in the combat zone" in Afghanistan.

The four remaining men are Feroz Abbasi, 23, Richard Belmar, 23, and Martin Mubanga, 29, all from London, plus Moazzam Begg, 36, from Birmingham.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3496960.stm

 

[Oceans11]

Family fears for brother's state


Maxine Fiddler describes the past two years as 'a nightmare'
The sister of a British man released from US detention after two years in says she has no idea how he will react when he returns to the UK on Tuesday.
Maxine Fiddler's brother Jamal Udeen was one of five Britons suspected of terror links to be released from Guantanamo Bay.

Leaving behind four other British men in Cuba, the five are expected to land in the UK on Tuesday night.

Ms Fiddler said the past two years had been "a nightmare" for her family.

We really don't know what to expect, how he is, his state of mind, so I'm really scared about that

Maxine Fiddler
Sister of Jamal Udeen

She had not received a letter from Mr Udeen, born Ronald Fiddler, for over a year and found it hard to imagine how he was coping.

Ms Fiddler, who lives in Manchester, told the BBC: "We really don't know what to expect, how he is, his state of mind, so I'm really scared about that.

"He may not want to speak to us, he may want to stay on his own, because can you imagine being locked up for two years - he'd be used to his own company.

"He may not want his family around him, it might be too much of a fuss, too much for him to take in."

She said she had no idea what she would say to her brother.

Ms Fiddler said: "I'm just going to put my hands around him and just thank God he is here.


BRITONS BEING RELEASED

Shafiq Rasul, 24, of Tipton, West Midlands
Asif Iqbal, 20, of Tipton
Ruhal Ahmed, 21, of Tipton
Jamal Al-Harith, 35, from Manchester
Tarek Dergoul, 24, from east London


Guantanamo Bay Britons
Relatives ask for justice

"I can't say thank you to the US government, I've got nothing to thank them for because they've had him too long."

The past two years had "torn the family apart", and affected her father's health.

She said she was angry at the US Government and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

If she could meet Mr Blair, she would ask him why he did not use his influence with President Bush.

She said she would tell Mr Blair: "You have a lot of power, why didn't you use it?"

Home Secretary David Blunkett said anti-terror police would question the men on their return from Cuba.

But Ms Fiddler said she hoped her brother would not be subjected to further interrogation.

"What more do they think they're going to get from these people?" she said.


The release of Mr Udeen and the other four was secured after the US concluded they presented a low risk.

Mr Blunkett indicated four other UK detainees would probably face trial in the US as they had been picked up "in the combat zone" in Afghanistan.

The four remaining men are Feroz Abbasi, 23, Richard Belmar, 23, and Martin Mubanga, 29, all from London, plus Moazzam Begg, 36, from Birmingham.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3546763.stm

 

[Oceans11]

The thing is that the US could have saved itself all this negative shit if JUST ONE PERSON in authority had a fuxxin braincell.

Classify them, and deal with it.

If they are not POWs or criminals, the only group left, is political prisoners.

Its much easier to use illegal techniques on politicals.

Kim Il Jong would have done the same thing, hide them away and squeeze em dry.

The difference is, he can just bung 'em in a deep pit afterwards and fill it in.

So we're halfway there.

We take politicals, hold them incommunicado, and squeeze 'em.

But our ones get released afterwards.


Outstanding.