Sarah Teather takes Jamil el-Banna's Children to Number Ten to seek 'Justice for Dad'

3.14.28pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Mar 2006

Jamil el-Banna has been held in Guantanamo Bay for over three years without trial

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather today took the children of Jamil el-Banna to 10 Downing Street in their call for 'Justice for Dad'.

Mr el-Banna has been held in Guantanamo Bay without trial for over three years. The children will be handing into 10 Downing Street a series of letters addressed to Tony Blair. Mr Blair has never replied personally to the children's letters.

The children were also accompanied by Times Series Reporter Paul Keilthy. The Times Series - Mr el-Banna's local paper - are spearheading the 'Justice for Dad' campaign calling for justice to be brought to Mr el-Banna.

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Jamil el-Banna's children want the Prime Minister to make representations to the Bush Administration about their father's illegal detention. Allegations of torture continue to surround Guantanamo Bay and Mr el-Banna's children want to know when and whether they will get to see their father again.

"The Prime Minister should give the children the courtesy of a personal reply to their letters.

"It is time Tony Blair came clean about the British Government's views about Guantanamo Bay. Allegations that British security officials were complicit in the illegal handover of Mr El Banna's to the Americans are very serious matters. Mealy mouthed statements such as the Prime Minister's description of Guantanamo Bay as an "anomaly" are just not good enough. This is not an anomaly; it is a total affront to justice.

"Justice must be brought to Jamil el-Banna and all those held in Guantanamo. If the US Government has evidence that these men are involved in terrorism then let them face trial. If they don't, then they should release them. To hold people without charge or trial for over three years shows a complete disregard for basic principles of justice."

Related Link:

Sign the 'Justice for Dad' petition