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| Open letter to Barack Obama requesting the return of Shaker Aamer to the UK | Open letter to Barack Obama requesting the return of Shaker Aamer to the UK |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Related: Former UK ministers urge Obama to free Shaker Aamer from Guantánamo Bay | Related: Former UK ministers urge Obama to free Shaker Aamer from Guantánamo Bay |
| Dear President Obama, | Dear President Obama, |
| On the day that the United States celebrates its independence, we the undersigned ask you to facilitate the transfer from Guantánamo of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in the prison, and his return to his family in the UK – his British wife and his four British children. | On the day that the United States celebrates its independence, we the undersigned ask you to facilitate the transfer from Guantánamo of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in the prison, and his return to his family in the UK – his British wife and his four British children. |
| The majority of us are British citizens, and it has not escaped our notice that, while the US is celebrating its freedom, and its foundation under the rule of law, the continuing detention of men at Guantánamo – largely without charge or trial – continues to undermine America’s notion of itself and its international standing. | The majority of us are British citizens, and it has not escaped our notice that, while the US is celebrating its freedom, and its foundation under the rule of law, the continuing detention of men at Guantánamo – largely without charge or trial – continues to undermine America’s notion of itself and its international standing. |
| The US authorities have given no indication over the years that they have any intention to charge Shaker Aamer with any criminal offence. Indeed, he is one of 51 men still held who have long been approved for release from Guantánamo after interagency reviews. In his case, he has twice been approved for release from the base – in 2007, under President Bush, and again, in 2010, by your Guantánamo review task force. | The US authorities have given no indication over the years that they have any intention to charge Shaker Aamer with any criminal offence. Indeed, he is one of 51 men still held who have long been approved for release from Guantánamo after interagency reviews. In his case, he has twice been approved for release from the base – in 2007, under President Bush, and again, in 2010, by your Guantánamo review task force. |
| We note that the British prime minster, David Cameron, has asked you to release him, that the British government supported a parliamentary motion calling for his release in March, and that a cross-party delegation of MPs visited Washington, DC in May to seek to establish a timeline for his release. Although they met senators, and the envoys for Guantánamo closure, no one was able to tell them when Mr Aamer would be released. | We note that the British prime minster, David Cameron, has asked you to release him, that the British government supported a parliamentary motion calling for his release in March, and that a cross-party delegation of MPs visited Washington, DC in May to seek to establish a timeline for his release. Although they met senators, and the envoys for Guantánamo closure, no one was able to tell them when Mr Aamer would be released. |
| We cannot understand the difficulty involved in releasing him to the UK, a close ally of the US, including on counter-terrorism. The MPs noted in an op-ed in the New York Times on 8 June: “There is simply no reason, domestic or international, for the United States to keep Mr Aamer in custody.” | We cannot understand the difficulty involved in releasing him to the UK, a close ally of the US, including on counter-terrorism. The MPs noted in an op-ed in the New York Times on 8 June: “There is simply no reason, domestic or international, for the United States to keep Mr Aamer in custody.” |
| The MPs also stated: “It is difficult for us to shake off the depressing notion that the Obama administration is indifferent to the repeated requests of the British government. It is a slap in the face for America’s staunchest friend.” | The MPs also stated: “It is difficult for us to shake off the depressing notion that the Obama administration is indifferent to the repeated requests of the British government. It is a slap in the face for America’s staunchest friend.” |
| Just three weeks ago, the US attorney general, Loretta Lynch, visited the UK to take part in a ceremony marking the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, the document that introduced habeas corpus to the world. The right not to be imprisoned without a fair trial has become the centrepiece of respect for the rule of law all around the world, and yet, when Ms Lynch stated at Runnymede that the fundamental principles of the Magna Carta have “given hopes to those who face oppression” and have “given a voice to those yearning for the redress of wrongs,” it was impossible not to think of Shaker Aamer, and others in Guantánamo, also “yearning for the redress of wrongs,” but finding that yearning repeatedly unfulfilled. | Just three weeks ago, the US attorney general, Loretta Lynch, visited the UK to take part in a ceremony marking the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, the document that introduced habeas corpus to the world. The right not to be imprisoned without a fair trial has become the centrepiece of respect for the rule of law all around the world, and yet, when Ms Lynch stated at Runnymede that the fundamental principles of the Magna Carta have “given hopes to those who face oppression” and have “given a voice to those yearning for the redress of wrongs,” it was impossible not to think of Shaker Aamer, and others in Guantánamo, also “yearning for the redress of wrongs,” but finding that yearning repeatedly unfulfilled. |
| As we congratulate you on the celebration of your country’s independence, we also urge you to address the ongoing and unjustifiable detention of Shaker Aamer without further delay. | As we congratulate you on the celebration of your country’s independence, we also urge you to address the ongoing and unjustifiable detention of Shaker Aamer without further delay. |
| Yours sincerely, | Yours sincerely, |
| Clive Stafford Smith, founder, Reprieve | Clive Stafford Smith, founder, Reprieve |
| Kate Allen, director, Amnesty International UK | Kate Allen, director, Amnesty International UK |
| Shami Chakrabarti, director, Liberty | Shami Chakrabarti, director, Liberty |
| Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain | Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain |
| Patrick Stewart, actor | Patrick Stewart, actor |
| Ralph Fiennes, actor | Ralph Fiennes, actor |
| Russell Brand, comedian, activist, actor | Russell Brand, comedian, activist, actor |
| Roger Waters, musician, ex-Pink Floyd | Roger Waters, musician, ex-Pink Floyd |
| Peter Gabriel, musician | Peter Gabriel, musician |
| Juliet Stevenson, actor, CBE, Olivier Award winner | Juliet Stevenson, actor, CBE, Olivier Award winner |
| David Morrissey, actor and director | David Morrissey, actor and director |
| Richard E Grant, actor | Richard E Grant, actor |
| Nick Davies, special correspondent, the Guardian | Nick Davies, special correspondent, the Guardian |
| Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer | Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer |
| Sir Richard Eyre, theatre and film director | Sir Richard Eyre, theatre and film director |
| David Hare, playwright, two Tony Awards, two Academy Award nominations | David Hare, playwright, two Tony Awards, two Academy Award nominations |
| Ken Loach, film director | Ken Loach, film director |
| Mike Leigh, film director and writer | Mike Leigh, film director and writer |
| Frankie Boyle, comedian | Frankie Boyle, comedian |
| Sara Pascoe, comedian | Sara Pascoe, comedian |
| Mark Rylance, actor, two Tony Awards | Mark Rylance, actor, two Tony Awards |
| Maxine Peake, actor | Maxine Peake, actor |
| Peter Oborne, journalist and author | Peter Oborne, journalist and author |
| Gillian Slovo, writer, Golden PEN Award winner | Gillian Slovo, writer, Golden PEN Award winner |
| Lisa Appignanesi, OBE, writer | Lisa Appignanesi, OBE, writer |
| Susie Orbach, psychotherapist and writer | Susie Orbach, psychotherapist and writer |
| Michael Brearley, OBE, former England cricket captain | Michael Brearley, OBE, former England cricket captain |
| Natalie Bennett, leader, the Green party of England and Wales | Natalie Bennett, leader, the Green party of England and Wales |
| Denis Halliday, former assistant secretary-general, United Nations | Denis Halliday, former assistant secretary-general, United Nations |
| Anna Perera, author, Guantanamo Boy | Anna Perera, author, Guantanamo Boy |
| Julie Hesmondhalgh, actor | Julie Hesmondhalgh, actor |
| Dr David Nicholl, neurologist, human rights activist | Dr David Nicholl, neurologist, human rights activist |
| Lindsay German, convener, Stop The War Coalition | Lindsay German, convener, Stop The War Coalition |
| Sir Iqbal Sacranie, chairman, board Of trustees, Balham Mosque | Sir Iqbal Sacranie, chairman, board Of trustees, Balham Mosque |
| Shaykh Suliman Ghani, imam, Tooting Islamic Centre | Shaykh Suliman Ghani, imam, Tooting Islamic Centre |
| Peter Tatchell, human rights activist | Peter Tatchell, human rights activist |
| Moazzam Begg, human rights activist | Moazzam Begg, human rights activist |
| Rhys Ifans, Bafta award-winning actor | Rhys Ifans, Bafta award-winning actor |
| Janet Ellis, actor, TV presenter, author | Janet Ellis, actor, TV presenter, author |
| Jeremy Hardy, comedian and presenter | Jeremy Hardy, comedian and presenter |
| Charlie Winston, platinum-selling musician | Charlie Winston, platinum-selling musician |
| Benjamin Zephaniah, poet and author | Benjamin Zephaniah, poet and author |
| Harriet Walter, actor, DBE, cast member of Death Of A Salesman | Harriet Walter, actor, DBE, cast member of Death Of A Salesman |
| Guy Paul, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman | Guy Paul, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman |
| Miranda Nolan, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman | Miranda Nolan, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman |
| Alex Hassell, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman | Alex Hassell, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman |
| Emma King, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman | Emma King, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman |
| Brodie Ross, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman | Brodie Ross, actor, cast member of Death Of A Salesman |
| Sting, musician | |
| Prince Stefano Massimo di Roccasecca dei Volsci | Prince Stefano Massimo di Roccasecca dei Volsci |
| Boris Johnson MP, Mayor of London, (Conservative, Uxbridge and South Ruislip) | Boris Johnson MP, Mayor of London, (Conservative, Uxbridge and South Ruislip) |
| John McDonnell MP (Labour, Hayes and Harlington, co-chair, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) | John McDonnell MP (Labour, Hayes and Harlington, co-chair, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) |
| David Davis MP (Conservative, Haltemprice and Howden, co-chair, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) | David Davis MP (Conservative, Haltemprice and Howden, co-chair, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) |
| Andrew Mitchell MP (Conservative, Sutton Coldfield, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) | Andrew Mitchell MP (Conservative, Sutton Coldfield, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) |
| Jeremy Corbyn MP (Labour, Islington North, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group), Labour leadership candidate | Jeremy Corbyn MP (Labour, Islington North, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group), Labour leadership candidate |
| Andy Slaughter MP (Labour, Hammersmith, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group), Shadow Justice Minister | Andy Slaughter MP (Labour, Hammersmith, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group), Shadow Justice Minister |
| Caroline Lucas MP (Green, Brighton Pavilion, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) | Caroline Lucas MP (Green, Brighton Pavilion, officer, Shaker Aamer parliamentary group) |
| Sir Alan Duncan MP (Conservative, Rutland and Melton) | Sir Alan Duncan MP (Conservative, Rutland and Melton) |
| Ann Clywd MP (Labour, Cynon Valley) | Ann Clywd MP (Labour, Cynon Valley) |
| Andrew Smith MP (Labour, Oxford East) | Andrew Smith MP (Labour, Oxford East) |
| Andrew Tyrie MP (Conservative, Chichester) | Andrew Tyrie MP (Conservative, Chichester) |
| Clive Lewis MP (Labour, Norwich South) | Clive Lewis MP (Labour, Norwich South) |
| Diane Abbott MP (Labour, Hackney North and Stoke Newington, mayoral candidate for London) | Diane Abbott MP (Labour, Hackney North and Stoke Newington, mayoral candidate for London) |
| Dominic Grieve MP (Conservative, Beaconfield), former attorney general | Dominic Grieve MP (Conservative, Beaconfield), former attorney general |
| Gareth Thomas MP (Labour Co-operative, Harrow West, mayoral candidate for London) | Gareth Thomas MP (Labour Co-operative, Harrow West, mayoral candidate for London) |
| Gavin Shuker MP (Labour, Luton South) | Gavin Shuker MP (Labour, Luton South) |
| Sir Gerald Kaufman MP (Labour, Manchester Gorton) | Sir Gerald Kaufman MP (Labour, Manchester Gorton) |
| Hywel Williams MP (Plaid Cymru, Arfon) | Hywel Williams MP (Plaid Cymru, Arfon) |
| Ian Murray MP (Labour, Edinburgh South), shadow secretary of state for Scotland | Ian Murray MP (Labour, Edinburgh South), shadow secretary of state for Scotland |
| John Pugh MP (Liberal Democrat, Southport) | John Pugh MP (Liberal Democrat, Southport) |
| Kate Hoey MP (Labour, Vauxhall) | Kate Hoey MP (Labour, Vauxhall) |
| Keir Starmer MP (Labour, Holborn and St Pancras) former attorney general | Keir Starmer MP (Labour, Holborn and St Pancras) former attorney general |
| Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour, Luton North) | Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour, Luton North) |
| Mark Durkan MP (SDLP, Foyle) | Mark Durkan MP (SDLP, Foyle) |
| Neil Carmichael MP (Conservative, Stroud) | Neil Carmichael MP (Conservative, Stroud) |
| Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative, Worthing West) | Sir Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative, Worthing West) |
| Rebecca Long Bailey MP (Labour, Salford and Eccles) | Rebecca Long Bailey MP (Labour, Salford and Eccles) |
| Roger Godsiff MP (Labour, Birmingham Hall Green) | Roger Godsiff MP (Labour, Birmingham Hall Green) |
| Sadiq Khan MP (Labour, Tooting, mayoral candidate for London) | Sadiq Khan MP (Labour, Tooting, mayoral candidate for London) |
| Stephen Timms MP (Labour, East Ham) | Stephen Timms MP (Labour, East Ham) |
| Tania Mathias MP (Conservative, Twickenham) | Tania Mathias MP (Conservative, Twickenham) |
| Tom Brake MP (Liberal Democrat, Carshalton and Wallington) | Tom Brake MP (Liberal Democrat, Carshalton and Wallington) |
| Yasmin Qureshi MP (Labour, Bolton South East) | Yasmin Qureshi MP (Labour, Bolton South East) |
| Jean Lambert MEP (Green, London) | Jean Lambert MEP (Green, London) |
| Baroness Helena Kennedy QC (Labour, House of Lords) | Baroness Helena Kennedy QC (Labour, House of Lords) |
| Baroness Jenny Jones (Green, House of Lords) | Baroness Jenny Jones (Green, House of Lords) |
| Lord Hylton (crossbench, House of Lords) | Lord Hylton (crossbench, House of Lords) |
| George Galloway, mayoral candidate for London | George Galloway, mayoral candidate for London |
| Tessa Jowell, mayoral candidate for London | Tessa Jowell, mayoral candidate for London |
| Joanne MacInnes, co-director, We Stand With Shaker | Joanne MacInnes, co-director, We Stand With Shaker |
| Andy Worthington, co-director, We Stand With Shaker | Andy Worthington, co-director, We Stand With Shaker |
| Joy Hurcombe, chair, Save Shaker Aamer campaign | Joy Hurcombe, chair, Save Shaker Aamer campaign |