Eid message to Tony Blair

Tony Blair
10 Downing Street
SW1A 2AA

3rd November 2005

Dear Mr. Blair

We are the families of the men currently detained pending deportation to countries such as Algeria and Jordan where they are certain to be tortured and may be killed.

These past few years have been extremely difficult and traumatic for us. Our lives have been torn apart; we have had no family life and no peace of mind. Our children have been robbed of their childhoods. Again we face an uncertain future. There appears to be no end in sight; we struggle to cope each day.

We can stay silent no longer. There are so many questions that that we need to ask you. Most importantly, how can you contemplate returning our loved ones to countries notorious for the use of systematic torture and extra judicial killings on the basis of unproven assertions?

Our loved ones have not been charged with any criminal offence. They do not even understand what they are supposed to have done. Yet they are locked up indefinitely.

We ask only that our loved ones are afforded their basic human rights. If they are accused of any wrongdoing, then charge them and let them face trial in an open court in this country.

Today it is Eid; an important and joyous day for Muslims. On this special day we remember our loved ones and feel their absence deeply.

We are grateful to our friends and the many hundreds of people who have demonstrated their support for our loved ones by signing a card wishing you Eid Mubarak.

We stand in solidarity with all those who have been detained and face deportation. We hope and pray that justice will be done.

Eid Mubarak Prime Minister.

Yours sincerely

The families of the deportees