Ministerial Dithering Prolongs El-Banna's Pain - Teather

8.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 26th Jul 2007

Local MP Sarah has lobbied senior ministers on behalf of her constituents

Local Liberal Democrat Brent MP Sarah Teather has welcomed a High Court order that forces the Home Secretary to make a decision on Brent resident Jamil el-Banna's return to the UK.

Jamil el-Banna, of Dollis Hill, 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 reenter the country.

The Home Secretary was today given a deadline by the High Court to decide if Jamil can return home to his family. Jacqui Smith was told she has until 4pm on August 9th to make her decision.

Jamil el-Banna's solicitors have also been given permission to seek judicial review of the Government's failure to confirm that he will be allowed back to Brent.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"It is outrageous that it takes a High Court order and the threat of a judicial review to get the Government to make a decision that should have been taken years ago.

"Jamil el-Banna is a British resident with a wife and British children living here in Brent. He was taken to Guantánamo on the basis of false information provided by British security services, then left there to rot for almost five years by the country that had pledged to protect him.

"Gordon Brown's Government must finally accept that they have a moral duty to bring my constituent home. While Ministers dither, five Brent children are continuing to grow up without a father.

"This should have an open and shut case. Jamil el-Banna belongs here in Brent with his family. If this Government has an ounce of compassion they will finally see sense and take steps to end the el-Banna's four long years of pain."