Brown Must Promise To Help Jamil - Teather

12.56.13pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Jun 2007

Local MP Sarah has raised her constituent's case with the government

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has written to future Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary John Reid asking them to help her constituent Jamil El-Banna.

Sarah is also urging local people to sign a new petition calling for Jamil to be allowed home to Brent upon his release from Guantánamo Bay.

Jamil el-Banna has been illegally imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay for over four years. Jamil has now finally been cleared for release by the United States Government. However, the British government are yet to say they will allow Jamil, a British resident, to return home to his wife and British children in Brent.

Unless Gordon Brown takes action, Jamil could be sent to Jordan to face the possibility of torture.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"The news that Jamil had been cleared for release should have been a time of rejoicing for his family and friends here in Brent. Instead Jamil's young children are facing yet more worry and uncertainty.

"The British government offered Jamil protection because they accepted he was not safe in Jordan. If Jamil is returned to a foreign country his British family will be torn apart. It is now more important than ever that we put pressure on the government to allow Jamil to come back to Brent.

"I urge local people to sign the new petition calling on the government to allow Jamil to return home. I have written to Gordon Brown and John Reid, but the campaign is so much stronger when local people are also willing to come forward and speak up for a member of our community.

"The Government played a significant part in Jamil's abduction and long term illegal imprisonment. It is outrageous that Gordon Brown may now stand back and watch my constituent returned to a country where his life could be in danger."