Teather Takes Amani's Case To Foreign Office

4.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Feb 2007

Local MP Sarah Teather has taken her constituent's case to the Foreign Office

Sarah Teather, local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, has met with officials at the Foreign Office to represent the case of her constituent Amani Hamadalla.

Amani's father, Major Hamadalla, was kidnapped from a British civilian aircraft brought down by Gaddafi in Libya in July 1971. Major Hamadalla was then handed over to the Sudanese authorities, and executed.

Major Hamadalla and Colonel Babkir el-Nour were Sudanese politicians who played a major part in a coup to oust Sudanese President General Numeri. The new government lasted just three days. Hamadalla's abduction and subsequent execution by the Sudanese authorities was a 'counter-coup' by Numeri to regain power.

Sarah and Amani first appealed to the British Government almost three and a half years ago, asking them to apply diplomatic pressure to the Libyan authorities to secure an apology for her father's kidnapping and execution.

The government raised the matter two years ago, but the Libyans have been completely silent since. Sarah believes the government should now step up their efforts to win an apology for Amani.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, said:

"This case has overshadowed the whole of Amani's life. Amani wants answers so that she can move on. It is surely right that Amani should receive an apology and formal recognition that the way her father was treated was illegal and unacceptable.

"This case caused an international scandal in the 1970s. Gaddafi brought down a British plane, kidnapped two senior politicians and handed them over to be executed. Thirty five years later the case remains just as shocking, and sweeping it under the carpet is not acceptable.

"The British Government promised to make representations to the Libyan authorities about the case. But they have been incredibly slow to respond.

"We badly need the British Government's help in getting answers from Libya. I was pleased to speak to officials at the Foreign Office, but it is about time that a senior Government minister agreed to meet with us to hear Amani's story.

"Amani Hamadalla first appealed to me for help three and a half years ago. It has been a long struggle to get this far, but I will continue to stand by my constituent until justice has been done."