Terrorist Binyam Reaches UK
Britain Concerned Over its Image After Binyam's Accusations
In the struggle for human rights and justice, Obama has already gone a long way in showing a ray of hope to its advocates. Only a month after his call for the closure of Guantanamo Bay, one of its most feared terrorist is set free. Binyam Muhammad, a “former terrorist” arrived back in the United Kingdom, where he has legal British residency, on 23rd of February 2009. Interestingly enough, this “threat to security” is set free without a single charge filed against him. But Binyam takes this opportunity to speak up about the involvement of countries in the atrocities committed against him during his incarceration. These raise concerns over the global image of the countries involved.
All those involved in the "alliance against war on terror" have had their hands dirtied and reputations marred in one way or another. Whether it is the influential actors or the West’s “puppets,” countries have used the tool of war against terrorism in order to remove the elements in society which threatened the leaders “politically” and not for national security reasons plainly. Such was/is the case, amongst others, in Pakistan, the Middle East, Central Asian states and more actively in the United Kingdom and United States.
Binyam Discloses British Involvement
Binyam Muhammad, of Ethiopian origin and British residency, was captured in Pakistan and later handed over to the US authorities for allegations of having connections with the Al-Qaeda. He was incarcerated for seven years in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Morocco and Guantanamo Bay. After physical examinations, the doctors declared that they found Binyam to be severely bruised and injured, having a serious impact on his psychological and emotional health as well. Upon Binyam’s release, his attorney, Clive Stafford, shared that the treatment his client underwent in Morocco “should have been left behind in the Middle Ages.”
What comes as a further shock for everyone, and a fragile point of concern for the UK is what Binyam describes as his worst nightmare. This is not the first time a British detainee has complained or even brought to light the harsh interrogations carried out by both American and British officers. Binyam declares that his worst moment came when he realized that the men interrogating him in Pakistan and later in Morocco were in fact doing so with the collusion of British secret service. Human Rights Watch has further revealed that at least ten detainees of British origin have been interrogated and tortured, in Pakistan, with the understanding of M15.
Is the Human Rights Campaign Close to Victory?
Binyam owes a great deal of his freedom to the campaigning by human rights groups worldwide. But the human rights war does not cease here. This should only motivate the activists around the world to work even harder towards the freedom of many more such political prisoners not just in Guantanamo but around the world wherever the jails against “terrorists” operate.
In Binyam’s words there are still 241 prisoners in Guantanamo Bay waiting for their release and union with families. Amnesty has revealed that 50 of these are protesting through hunger strike. This is the moment where the US can change its negative perceptions in the world. In order to restore its marred image, the US should end not just Guantanamo but also other jails where atrocities are conducted in the name of “war on terror.”
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