Letters from detainees
Between the hammer of detention and the anvil of forced repatriation
A letter from detainees in British prisons, 6th Nov 2006
We do not know if there is a place where our case can still stir anyone in this world while they see the tragedies and catastrophes in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo. But regardless of whether people are stirred with our case or not, for us to record what is happening to us is a duty we must perform. Our tragedy and pain is part of the series of pains that is felt by people in cases like ours when laws are destroyed and flames ignited by politicians whose only desire is the achievement of their tyrannical subjugation and the spreading and domination of their lowly thoughts engulfs any notion of human rights.
download the full statement as a PDF
URGENT APPEAL from the wife of a Libyan man threatened with deportation
6th Nov 2006
This is an urgent appeal to all national and international human rights organizations to intervene with the British authorities in order to honour their commitment to all the international conventions and agreements to which they are signatories. This is required so as to guarantee that my husband does not get extradited and handed over to the Libyan authorities, as he is likely to be subjected to the death sentence and/or tortured because of his political activities against the Qaddafi regime.
more on this case
A letter of thanks to CAMPACC supporters from a victim of internment under the Anti Terrorist, Crime and Security Act 2001
I thank from the bottom of my heart.
I use to be a detainee at Belmarch Prison 2001. After I left to Morocco where I live with my mother and sister in Tangier. I want to thank you and all them good people out there . I'm still following my case with Gareth Pierce the lawyer. Before I use to translate for her client. After Mr Blunket said I was a terror I had to be in prison ......long lives the lords. It is history written with golden ink for the British people. It is not the detainees who won. But the British people has won this is the best Christmas present for the British people for generation to come. They will proud to remember 16-12-2001. I personally have nothing against security because I used to be one my self. But if there is any evidence they should bring it forward and do justice with it. A great country as great Britain should not have the law of the jungle. It deserves better. I lived in the UK for 16 years and the British people made feel like one of them. Why should any body think want to kill them.
Many thanks again.
Extracts of a letter received by Ann from Detainee I, MX8760, Full Sutton, York. YO141PS
“I have received many letters from you and from others. We all thank you here for the help and support. We are really very pleased. Thank you all. I spend a lot of time reading all my mail and sometimes read them twice.” “Concerning our situation, you know what happened. We lost our bail hearing and are waiting on what will happen next month. As far as I am concerned, maybe little. This Government are determined to keep people behind bars for a political purpose. Our situation is degrading day by day. We have not seen the sky for more than 3 months. The cells are very cold.” NB: It will be even colder now in this freezing weather.
The showers are very very hot. The gym is without proper ventilation – closed room with no window. The exercise yard is closed with double fences, even the roof”. “We are not connected with anything yet we are treated worse than Cat A prisoners – strip searches, little education, deliberate delays in opening times. Our properties are kept in reception for weeks, then, at the end they come and tell us we don’t have the right for this and that”.
“We see people coming – the so-called visitors – They ask us “Are you alright?” then they disappear. Then they write in their reports “They are ok”. “Everything is fine”. It is just like a zoo!” “We have one man recently arrived here. He is suffering – he cannot sleep all the night. His health is seriously degrading and he is very weak. Another man has agreed to be deported but he is still detained here. Both are from Iraq.”
“What is happening is beyond imagination. They argue that freedom is a fundamental right, yet they deny it to so many. We hope this hardship will come to an end soon Inchallah. Our trust is in Allah”. “We are here because we are Muslims. We will stick to Islam whatever happens because the Lord says “This day have I perfected your religion for you. Completed my favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”. So Inchallah everything will come to the end NICELY. Just PATIENCE.”
Would you please tell Ishmael, Ibraham and Abdulleh that we tried to write but it was refused because they say it is a PO Box. We thank them for their letters. Machallah, they have beautiful names. I ask Allah to protect them from evil, guide them to the right path and grant them a happy life here and in Paradise in the hereafter, for them, their parents and their loved ones. Tell them Eid Mubarek – May Allah forgive us all. And I seize the opportunity to wish them Happy New Year”. Detainee I 12.11.05
23rd November 2005
A letter from the detainees in The Guardian, 26 Feb 04
We were arrested in December 2001 and taken straight to Belmarsh prison. We know that the police in this country have enormous powers to investigate suspected terrorists. Why did no one ever speak to us? Why were we never asked a single question before being locked up as terrorists? We have never had a trial. We were found guilty without one. We are imprisoned indefinitely and probably forever. We have no idea why. We have not been told what the evidence is against us. We are here. Speak to us. Listen to us. Tell us what you think and why. If you did, you would no longer believe we were a threat to this country. You would think perhaps that there was not the emergency you have imagined here. Everyone is giving their opinion about us. Why not think of coming to us first, rather than locking us up and never speaking to us?
The Forgotten Detainees, Belmarsh prison