Davey Says: Guantanamo Must Close

22.5.06

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has welcomed UK Attorney General Lord Goldsmith's calls for the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay to close.

Edward Davey has been lobbying ministers for the release of his constituent Bisher al Rawi, a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, for over three years without success. A recent breakthrough saw the Foreign Secretary writing to US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, requesting Mr al Rawi's release. However, there are deeper concerns about the threat to civil liberties posed by the existence of the detention centre.

Edward Davey MP said,

"Lord Goldsmith's comments highlight how the whole free world is united in its condemnation of Guantanamo Bay.

"The only people who don't see the detention centre as a threat to civil liberties are the US Government. President Bush still believes that it's acceptable to imprison people indefinitely and without trial.

"Bisher al Rawi has been stuck in there for over three years. Although the Government has finally been persuaded to make representations for his release, his terrible ordeal is far from over.

"The fight against terrorism must have also protect human rights. Guantanamo Bay must be closed down or its inhabitants put on trial. The sooner Tony Blair puts pressure on the President to end this blot on the human rights landscape, the better."

Note

Lord Goldsmith's comments included "The historic tradition of the United States as a beacon of freedom, liberty and of justice deserves the removal of this symbol". For more information, see BBC News.