I have blogged before about the terrible plight of Shaker Aamer, the Brit that is still in Guantanamo Bay. This blog is about taking action and making it easy, both for you and your MP. Together we can force the US to put their morals where their mouth is. I want YOU to write to your MP (you can find out who your MP is here) highlighting his case. You can use the following as a guide or you can simply cut and paste into an email. Please do let me know any response you receive
Dear [name] MP,
As you will know there is a British resident still languishing in Guantanamo Bay. I hope you agree that Shaker Aamer’s detention without charge or trial is unacceptable.
As a result I urge you to write to Hague about this issue pushing him to go further that he already has (raising it with Clinton).
Please sign the following letter without delay.
I look forward to you taking action on this case.
[your name and address]
Rt Honourable William Hague
House of Commons,
London,
SW1A 0AA
I am writing on behalf of a number of my constituents who have expressed deep concern at the current status of Shaker Aamer, a British resident currently detained in Guantanamo Bay. Raising this case to the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton is timely and welcome. However, a number of my constituents are concerned that the UK government is not doing enough to bring about his release or trial. I would therefore urge you to continue to push for his immediate release or trial and report back to Parliament on the outcome of your discussions with Secretary of State Clinton.
Shaker is a British resident who has been held in captivity for nearly nine years with no charge or trial. He has alleged numerous cases of torture and has spent much of his time in solidarity confinement on hunger strike. Guantanamo Bay remains a travesty of justice that we cannot let encroach onto our government’s time in power. President Obama has made the commitment to fully close Guantanamo; we have to push for this promise to be fulfilled.
To bring this case to a swift resolution, I urge you to pursue the following:
- Push for an agreed timetable with the US authorities for Shaker Aamer’s release or trial.
- Ensure that all allegations of torture and illegal detention are fully investigated, including the possibility of any British involvement.
- Call for the complete closure of Guantanamo Bay and the use of illegal detention.
For as long as Shaker Aamer remains in custody without charge or trial there is no possibility of our government drawing a line under these cases of alleged torture and illegal detention overseas.
I trust that you will see that action on this case is imperative for not only Shaker and his family waiting for him in the UK, but also for Britain as a whole.
I look forward to your response.
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