US MUST ALLOW DELEGATION INTO GUANTANAMO - TEATHER

5.49.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Sep 2006

Sarah Teather is calling for a delegation of MPs to be granted access to Guantanamo Bay

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has today written to the American Government demanding that a delegation of British MPs be allowed to visit Guantánamo Bay.

Brent Resident Jamil El-Banna is currently being held in the detention centre without charge.

The letter, signed by five MPs including Sarah Teather, calls on the USA to demonstrate that conditions inside the detention centre are acceptable in terms of human rights and international conventions.

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Every day that Jamil El-Banna spends in Guantánamo Bay causes more distress for his family and friends here in Brent. His detention without charge or trial is entirely against international law.

"I will continue to work with local campaigners until Jamil is brought home. Until then the United States has a duty to prove that conditions in the camp meet international standards. Guantanamo has for too long acted as a recruiting sergeant for extremists. The US must either release Jamil or present evidence against him in a court of law.

"I have already visited Washington to raise this case with the American Government, and am now asking to visit Guantánamo Bay to ensure the welfare of my constituent.

"The families of those in Guantanamo have had almost no contact with those held. They have had to survive on rumour and third hand accounts of their relatives' well being. It would be a much needed gesture by the US to let representatives of the UK Parliament visit our constituents and be able to reassure their families that they are unharmed."