Condemnations Are Not Enough - Teather

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 26th Jun 2007

Sarah Teather speaks up for her constituents in the House of Commons

Sarah Teather, Brent's Liberal Democrat MP, has used a parliamentary debate to speak up for her constituent, Jamil el-Banna, in Guantánamo Bay.

Although the Government have now condemned Guantánamo Bay, they are still refusing to take firm action to bring British residents like Jamil el-Banna home.

Jamil el-Banna has been illegally imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay for over four years. Jamil has now finally been cleared for release by the United States Government. However, the British government are yet to say they will allow Jamil, a British resident, to reenter the country.

Unless Gordon Brown takes action, Jamil could be sent to Jordan to face the possibility of torture. This week Brent Council unanimously passed a motion calling on Brent's MPs to lobby the Government for Jamil's return to his wife and British children in Dollis Hill.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Jamil el-Banna was imprisoned because of false information provided by the British Government. He has been left to rot for over four years because Tony Blair would not stand up to America. And now he may be prevented from coming home because the British Government will not take him back.

"The Government are in this up to their necks. Prime Minister Brown should show compassion for a British family in need by immediately taking the action that Tony Blair always refused.

"Hollow condemnations are not enough. People are fed up with a Labour Government that is willing to talk tough but not to act tough. If ministers really feel that Guantánamo is so morally repugnant they should bring my constituent home."

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Read the debate in full.