Writing to Prisoners of the "War on Terror"
Prisoners held in connection with terrorism are placed under
enormous stress. Many are in very fragile mental health.
Letters are a lifeline for them.
Contact details for prisoners can change - if you discover errors on this page please let us know -
contact SACC
Detainees facing deportation/already deported
Many of the foreign citizens formerly held without
charge or trial under a now-obsolete part of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security
Act (ATCSA) 2001 and then released following a ruling
by the Law Lords in December 2004, were later re-arrested in an attempt to deport them. A number of other men who are living in Britain as asylum-seekers or refugees and were not previously held under the ATCSA 2001 have also been arrested pending deportation on supposed "national security" grounds. They are either in jail or bailed on terms amounting to house arrest, although they are not accused of committing any crime.
The men face the likelihood of torture if deported.
Many have been deliberately placed at distant locations, beyond the reach of their solicitors and their families. Some are single and have no families in the UK, and have received less than a handful of visitors or calls in the past 4-5 years that they have been incarcerated. Please write to them.
Court orders prohibit the publication of the names of
some of the ex-detainees. This is for their protection and for
the protection of others. If the men reply with their names,
please don't pass their names on - the
information could easily reach people who aren't acting in the
men's interests, or who don't understand the situation.
|
Omar Othman (Abu
Qatada)
c/o Birnberg Peirce Solicitors
14 Inverness Street
Camden Town
London
NW1 7HJ
|
Briefings against Abu Qatada were used
as justification for the 2001 Act prior to the act being
passed. Parliamentarians were told that the case of
everyone targeted for detention had been carefully
considered by the Crown Prosecution Service and that no
one would be detained under the Act where it was possible
to try them by normal methods. In fact, the CPS had never
been approached about Abu Qatada or any other
detainee.
No Justice in Secrecy by Victoria Brittain, 13 December 2008
|
|
Detainee B
c/o Birnberg Peirce Solicitors
14 Inverness Street
Camden Town
London
NW1 7HJ
|
A single man. At Belmarsh prison acted
as a carer for others, sharing a cell with "G" as he went
mad, and acting as the physical and mental carer for "M".
Constantly raised his profound concerns at the
deterioration of the mental health of all. Later fell
victim himself to the effects of indefinite detention.
Moved from Belmarsh Prison to Broadmoor, then "released"
in March 2005. "B" is a creative and skilled potter. He
suffered a further breakdown after his release in March
2005, and was in a local hospital until he was re-arrested for deportation.
He has now been released under immigration bail.
|
|
Taleb Benaissa,
2689
Prison de Chlef (Bloc),
CHLEF 02000
Algeria
|
Formerly known as Detainee "H"
Deported to Algeria in January 2007 and despite guarantee of "safety on return", he is now held in the notorious Serkardji prison and asks not to be forgotten. His wife and baby, who hoped to join him in Algeria, live in London.
|
|
Detainee G, MX8759
c/o Birnberg Peirce Solicitors
14 Inverness Street
Camden Town
London
NW1 7HJ
|
Detainee "G"
A polio victim. Became mentally ill in
Belmarsh Prison, suffering from paranoia and delusions,
and becoming so weak he unable to stand. "Released" on
bail because of his condition. The bail conditions amount
to house arrest and he is in a very depressed
condition.
|
|
Reda Dendani
Prison de Chlef (Maison D'Arrest)
CHLEF 02000
Algeria
|
Formerly know as Detainee "Q" (His anonymity was lifted at his own request in January 2007.)
He was held under control orders before being re-arrested under the deportation powers, post 7/7, in August 2005. Deported to Algeria in January 2007. He was held for a time in the notorious Serkadji prison, but has subsequently been moved. His anonymity was lifted at his own request in January 2007. He is married.
|
|
Detainee OO,
c/o Birnberg Peirce Solicitors
14 Inverness Street
Camden Town
London
NW1 7HJ
|
Detainee "OO"
The most shocking and the most baffling decision to deport an acknowledged refugee came on 26th January 2006, when a wheelchair-bound stroke victim, a respected and law abiding imam, (who had never been questioned by the police in this country where he had lived since 1991 entirely lawfully with his family (all British citizens), was suddenly arrested. This arrest came as the cruellest shock of all to the informed community however accustomed that community had become to injustice and cruelty.
More about detainee OO
|
Faraj Hassan
Arani & Co. Solicitors
43A South Road,
Southall
Middlesex
UB1 1SW
|
Formerly referred to as Detainee "AS"
Faraj is a young Libyan with a wife and 6 year old daughter who he has not seen since she was a few weeks old. He is held for deportation to Libya.
|
| Mustapha Taleb
contact details to be updated
|
Mustapha was acquitted of the supposed "ricin" plot but was rearrested for deportation to Algeria.
|
| Detainee BB
c/o Mr. Rakesh Singh
Fisher Meredith Solicitors
406 Kenington Road
London
SE11 4PT
|
Detainee BB is an Algerian man living under immigration bail.
|
Under Control Orders
According to a Home Office statement issued on 12 June 2008, 15 control orders were in force at that time, three of them on British citizens.
|
Hussain Sumamra
c/o Tindallwoods Solicitors
Priory Gate,
Steelhouse Lane
Birmingham
B4 6 EB
|
|
Prisoners awaiting extradition proceedings/already extradited
A number of prisoners are being held as a
result of requests by overseas governments for them to be
extradited to face terrorisn charges, or are detained overseas following extradition . The prisoners listed below would welcome letters.
|
Babar Ahmad
MX5383
HMP Long Lartin
South Littleton
Evesham
Worcs.
WR118TZ
|
Babar Ahmad was first arrested in
December 2003 and released 6 days later without charge.
He was beaten and abused while in police custody and has
filed a complaint about his treatment. The Crown Office
says there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the
officers concerned. He was arrested again in August 2004
in response to an extradition request from the USA.
More about Babar
Ahmad
|
|
Syed Talha Ahsan
TA 6044
HMP Long Lartin
South Littleton
Evesham
Worcs.
WR118TZ
|
Talha Ahsan is a British citizen from Tooting. He was arrested by UK police on 19th July 2006 following an indictment against him by a court in the US.
Talha's case is n affront to justice and has resonance with the abuse of the law being carried out against Babar Ahmad.
More about Talha Ahsan
|
|
Labsi Moustafa
No.90
UPZC Medvedov
93007 Medvedov
Slovakia
|
Mustapha Labsi was detained in Britain as a consequence of an extradition request from France. After fighting unsuccessfully against extradition he was sent to France in 2005. He was then allowed to return to Slovakia, where his wife lives. He is now in a camp in Slovakia, threatened with deportation to Algeria.
Mustapha's Story
|
|
Haider Henani
FF8180
c/o Birnberg Peirce Solicitors
14 Inverness Street
Camden Town
London
NW1 7HJ
|
Facing extradition to the US. Formerly known as Amar Makhlulif and as Abu Doha. Interview with a friend and supporter -
Inteview about Amar Makhlulif
|
|
Monsieur Rachid RAMDA
92 1989
Division 2/15
MA Fresnes
Allee des Thuyas
94261 Fresnes Cedex
France
|
Extradited to France on 1 December 2005, after 10 years
on remand in Belmarsh Prison. More information at
Justice for Rachid Ramda
|
Other
Prisoners held overseas with particular links to Britain and/or to our campaign
|
Sig. Yamine BOUHRAMA
Viatre Fontane Siano 28
Catanzaro 88100
Italy
|
Arrested in Italy following the arrest of his brother in Britain in connection with
the "ricin plot." His brother was cleared of all charges in April 2005.
More about Yamine Bouhrama
|
|
Khaled Serai
Via Enrico Albanese No. 3
Palermo 90139
Italy
|
|
More information about prisoners in Britain
See also
Prisoners: UK, for background from Cageprisoners about prisoners in the UK
and
Write To The Forgotten Detainees for contact details from Cageprisoners of prisoners you can write to.
Guantanamo Detainees
The US is also holding a number of British residents who do not have British nationality. For more about these men, and other Guantanamo detainees from around the world, visit
Guantanamo
prisoners
- the most comprehensive list available of detainees from
around the world, supplied by the Cageprisoners
campaign.
Important Note
You can try to write to the prisoners at the Guantanamo addresses given on the Cage Prisoners website.
Mail to Guantanamo prisoners is subject to delays and censorship. There is a distinct possibility that your letter will be withheld for a long period, or that the detainee may never receive your letter. However, letter-writing is a valuable protest action, as it sends a strong message to the US administration that the world has not forgotten the prisoners in Guantanamo. And if a detainee does receive your letter, it's value will be enormous.
Cageprisoners can also forward messages to all the former British Guantanamo detainees, as well as to a number of other former Guantanamo detainess and to families of some detainees.
|
Write to the Prisoners