Binyam Mohamed case: an inquiry needed

Reacting to today’s High Court ruling and a House of Commons statement from David Davis MP in the case of Binyam Mohamed, a UK resident held at Guantánamo Bay, Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“David Davis is right to raise serious concerns about torture in Binyam Mohamed’s case - we’ve been doing that for several years.

“On top of allegedly suffering torture Binyam has been held in harsh conditions for over six years and his physical and mental health have declined alarmingly.

“Amnesty has always believed that it has been absolutely deplorable that the UK government has fought to stop documents on Binyam’s case coming to light.

“There now needs to be an independent inquiry into allegations that the UK has in some way been complicit in this man’s torture and the wider practice of rendition and secret detention.

“In addition to expediting the release of documents we’re calling on the Foreign Secretary David Miliband to re-double his efforts to secure the immediate release of Binyam from Guantánamo.

“We also want the UK government to press for the release of Shaker Aamer and Ahmed Belbacha, two other men with longstanding links to the UK.”