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The organizers want to make a peaceful, yet bold, visual message about humanitarian crimes in Guantanamo. (IOL photo) |
LONDON — Two British Muslims having been taking time off from work and family life during Ramadan to make a public statement about the inhuman conditions suspects suffer in Washington's notorious Guantanamo detention center.
"My companion and I are doing this to provide a peaceful, yet bold, visual message to everyone in order to raise awareness of the humanitarian crimes being committed against the prisoners that have been illegally detained," Abul Basher Ali told IslamOnline.net from behind bars.
Ali and Abu Mumin, former Guantanamo detainees, are voluntarily locked-up in a cage, chained and hooded without basic amenities and comfort in a busy traffic junction corner on the Whitechapel Road, East London.
"Irrespective of what nationality or faith these people are, we are trying to promote a human approach and not to be too influenced by the negative hype," said Ali.
"All we ask for is for the prisoners to receive humane treatment, for the authorities to gather evidence, to try the prisoners and sanction them should they be guilty."
The event is being organized by Hidden Detainees,a UK-based group working with human rights organizations to spread awareness of caged prisoners in Guantanamo.
There are about 340 detainees still being held at the notorious prison camp in Cuba.
The Pentagon has transferred or released approximately 445 detainees to other countries.
Supportive Britons
The event was organized after consultation with the local police as well as Tower Hamlets council.
"We provided thorough proposals and a risk assessment. Everything was done overboard," said Ali.
The organizers have teamed up with a number of human rights and community organizations to stage this unique live event, including the Islamic Forum Europe (IFE), Liberty, Amnesty, Cageprisoners, Centre for the Study of Terrorism (CFSOT) and the 1990 Trust.
"The surprising thing for some people is when I say that we have been overwhelmed by the support from non-Muslims, who have encouraged us, signed the petitions and donated to related help organizations," says Ali.
"This is a clear example of the strong sense of justice of the British people and we both thank them for that. Some passing by have been abusive, but they have very much been in the minority."
Guantanamo has received worldwide condemnation for operating outside the law, with many prisoners committing suicide and going on extensive hunger strikes.
"For over five years the prisoners have not been charged," said Hidden Detainees spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Sati.
"They have been left in a state of limbo, rendering any effort to challenge their case in the court of law a futile exercise."
Some of those who stopped to check the protest did not agree with the message.
"It shouldn’t happen here. They are supporting evil people," said local resident Graham Parris.
"The detainees in these prisons are terrorists, who deserve to be there. I know it’s not fair, but this heavy handed action may deter others from getting involved in terrorist activity, and that can only be good."
Aleya Akhtar, a local resident, disagreed.
"They have no charges because they have done nothing. Imprisoning them will not scare anybody. This is what will breed resentment and hatred."
Lee Jenkins, an IT analyst, stopped by to pick up promotional literature from the information stalls.
"I’d never heard anything but bad stuff about Guantanamo. I’m pretty disappointed in myself, in that I had never asked the question as to why these people had not been charged," he said.
"I’m going to take these leaflets, read up and generally take more notice of this issue as well as spread the word."
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