Sarah Teather Nominates Brent Paper For Journalism Award

4.40.40pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 8th Oct 2007

Sarah Teather MP with Anas and Mohammed el-Banna at Downing Street

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather has nominated the Willesden and Brent Times for a prestigious London Press Award. The Awards are designed to recognise excellence in London newspapers for reporting Black, Ethnic Minority or Refugee issues.

The Willesden and Brent Times played a significant role in helping Sarah's campaign to win justice for her constituent Jamil el-Banna, a Jordanian refugee who is imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay.

Although Jamil remains illegally imprisoned in the camp, the US Government have now cleared him for release. After an intensive campaign by Sarah, local journalists and national pressure groups, the British Government were forced to back down and have agreed to accept Jamil back to Brent when the American Government finally let him go.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Many local newspapers will shy away from tackling complex or controversial issues but the Willesden and Brent Times took this issue head on.

"I know that the support of their local paper has been a huge comfort to Jamil's family. The Willesden and Brent Times have never forgotten that at the centre of this very complicated case there is a British family who just want their Dad home.

"It's important to recognise excellent and courageous work. I very much hope that the Willesden and Brent Times will go on to win."

Notes:

Sarah Teather has nominated Jenny Engstrom's article, "Justice", for a London Press Award. The article appeared on pages 1, 4 and 5 of the Willesden and Brent Times on Thursday August 9th 2007.

More details on the competition can be found at:

http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/equalities/pressawards/