“It is far from easy to think of individuals in 2008 who would have the courage and commitment to make their focus of concern the circumstances of detained Muslims in Britain and beyond. The work done by the small collective that constitutes ‘Cageprisoners’ is quite remarkable; there is not an individual whose plight that escapes their notice; where little is known, Cageprisoners conducts its own research, takes statements, conducts interviews, generates debate and consistently produces a flow of reliable information that is otherwise unobtainable. The world inhabited by prisoners is intended by their jailers to be secret and silent; Cageprisoners gives a voice to the voiceless, and refuses to allow those who are not detained, the complacency of ignorance. Their work is achieved on a shoestring, and yet matches and surpasses that of many organisations by comparison massively resourced organisations which barely scratch the surface of the same area. The Cageprisoners website is or should be required reading for the public at large, writers, broadcasters, academics, lawyers and politicians and all who believe that it is their duty to be properly informed.” (Gareth Peirce, human rights lawyer)
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Cageprisoners, its members and supporters. Your contributions will allow me to rehabilitate and to regain my mobility after the most painful chapter of my life. I am hopeful for the opportunity to walk independently again, to find gainful employment and to rebuild my life. Owing to your advocacy and generosity, my hopes can now be realized. Thank you.” (Ahmad Abdulahad, Uighur former Guantanamo prisoner, Palau)
“I would like to thank Cageprisoners and your supporters for coming to the aid of a Muslim in times of need and hardship. May Allah accept it from you and grant you success in this world and the next.” (Lahcen Ikassrien, former Guantanamo prisoner, Spain)
“May Allah reward you with the best for the work you have done and continue to do for the cause of the prisoners.” (Adel al-Gazzar, former Guantanamo prisoner, Slovakia)
“Your assistance has helped me at a time of great personal difficulty. Your work is crucial in keeping the voices of the prisoners alive in the minds of those who have forgotten.” (Farhad Mohammed, former Guantanamo prisoner, Pakistan)
"I am sincerely grateful for your appeal to our captors. It's almost overwhelming not knowing how to reciprocate. Reading about the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay and the horrifying revelations that came after your release were among the reasons why I decided to volunteer for CPT in Iraq. It was disturbing to witness Tom and Norman being told to wear the suits, not knowing what would happen next. In those moments I remembered you and your fellow prisoners. Your work before -and after- your ordeal inspires me." (Harmeet Sooden, former hostage held in Iraq, Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT))
"These last few days reading the testimonies of the former detainees on your page and thinking about what I learned in that camp... it’s been an unusual and bizarre process...I hope that in some way we can work together to bring a portion of humanity back to a period in our lives that was separated by metal and fear. I feel that there is probably a great deal of anger for you and the rest of the men whose lives were seized by men similar in many ways to myself... I respect immensely what you do, and I hope I can be of any help to you….I feel like this might be my greatest duty to the humanity that I love so much, by far exceeding the awful duty I served for a country which has done nothing but destroy and provoke hatred and despair in the rest of the world and inside of its own boundaries." (Christopher Arendt, former US soldier stationed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba)
“I join my prayers to yours for the safekeeping and early release of those detainees in Guantanamo, and my unending support for the cause of Cageprisoners.” (Joanna Lumley, actress)
“I join my prayers to yours for the safekeeping and early release of those detainees in Guantanamo, and my unending support for the cause of Cageprisoners.” (Joanna Lumley, actress)
“I'm an American and I love America, but there is so much people need to learn here...I'm glad, very glad I contacted this web site. I have wanted to for a few years now. That year had a very large impact on my life.” (Rachel, former US soldier stationed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba)
“Please pass on my thanks to Moazzam for his talk last week, it generated a fantastic response, people we're talking about it for days after and the Amnesty International group has been flooded with students since. Once again I am extremely grateful to Moazzam and everyone at Cageprisoners for last week and everything you do.” (Sam, student Amnesty group, University of Exeter)
“If you want to get involved and active in campaigning against the abuses at Guantanamo or secret prisons the first thing you must do is visit the Cageprisoners’ website.” (Vanessa Redgrave, actress)
"I think that your website is fantastic! One of the aspects of the website that is so important is the ability to reach out to people around the world who need help on behalf of their loved ones. It’s a wonderful website, and has done an enormous amount of good. Please keep it up.” (Clive Stafford Smith, US lawyer for the Guantanamo detainees)
"Amnesty ... has done its reputation incalculable damage by allying itself with Moazzam Begg and his group Cageprisoners, and holding them up as human rights advocates." (Salman Rushdie KBE, novelist)
“We confirm that we find no reasons in principle why we should not have worked with Moazzam Begg and Cageprisoners, or to rule out further cooperation with them, on the issue of Guantánamo Bay and other unlawful detentions.” (Claudio Cordeone, Senior Director for Research, Amnesty International)
"I extend my heartfelt thanks and support for the work undertaken by the Cageprisoners team on behalf of all the men and women detained without charge or trial in Guantanamo and the secret prisons. Your work is truly inspirational." (Sami Al-Hajj, former Guantanamo prisoner and head of Al-Jazeera Human Rights Unit)
“There are people out there who don’t like your success and don’t like the fast growing success of Cageprisoners, be sure that it is just an ‘ice hurdle’..." (Ahmed Errachidi, former Guantanamo prisoner, Morocco)
"Congratulations and no word can be enough to thank you for your endless effort and support. May you continue your great work and always be successful; I really don't how to express my appreciation and all the hard work finally paid off....May god bless you - without you and people like you, I wonder what the world would have become - you are the sanity left in the world." (Lubna Karim, relative of Amir Yaqoob, former Guantanamo prisoner, Sudan)
"Brilliant! I think your website is the best website highlighting the Guantanamo issue and the unfair detention by the authorities in general. We believe this site has been very helpful for us as family members. This site has shone a light on these issues and a lot of people have come to understand this cause very, very well through your site." (Khalid Al Odah, father of Kuwaiti detained in Guantanamo, Fawzi al Odah)
"Cageprisoners.com is the most comprehensive website about what's going on in Guantanamo Bay. I myself have found it a very useful resource, and I refer members of the media to it. I found particularly useful your interview with Tarek Dergoul. I refer people to it 'cause it saves me having to explain things to them!" (Stephen Hopper, lawyer for former Guantanamo detainee, Mamdouh Habib)
”I think it's an excellent site. An eye-opener. It's very exposing - it tells the truth about what is really happening in Guantanamo Bay. I visit the site regularly and whenever I do, it makes me feel wanted and appreciated; that there is someone out there who cares for the plight of the forgotten prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.” (Tarek Dergoul, Briton formerly detained in Guantanamo)
"Alhamdulillah, I was very happy when I came out of prison, which was the first time I came across ‘Cageprisoners.com’. I felt so good, I was so happy that alhamdulillah, there were people that were speaking out for the oppressed and the weak, and trying to publicise their stories. So immediately, I made contact with them, and tried to help them in any way. This is a unique website and it’s really serving it’s purpose. May Allah reward the brothers and sisters involved.” (KM, former Belmarsh detainee)
“When I consider your website, I think of the word 'courage'; Courage to do what others are not doing for the oppressed, courage to remain persistent, day after day, while others have forgotten their brothers.” (Editor, The Muslim Link)
"The event went really well. At least 400 people turned up - we had to change rooms to a bigger one. A real success! Our Amnesty group noted that none of us had been to a talk anywhere near as big in all our time at university. It was very inspiring." (Emily, student Amnesty group, University of Nottingham)
"Cageprisoners were one of the many organisations who helped campaign for my husband Mohammed, while he was imprisoned in spain. Jazakallahukhairun to all those who have helped me at Cageprisoners." (Khadija Podd, wife of former Spanish prisoner, Mohammed Fahsi)
Our deepest thanks for a most informative, stimulating evening. I should like to wish him well and all at Cageprisoners and if there is anything that we here in Hull can do for you/him, do please let us know." (John Beardmore, Quaker Warden, Hull)
“I think your website is brilliant - I use it myself to find out information from press articles. A lot of work must have gone into it because it looks very professional. It is absolutely appropriate that it provides a focal point for Muslims to discuss what they can do about the outrage of Guantanamo Bay and other detentions without trial and injustices being meted out to Muslims around the world. There are over 600 people in Guantanamo Bay but around the world thousands are also being detained without trial (many of them in Iraq). We must keep remembering all these forgotten people and doing whatever we can for them.” (Louise Christian, human rights lawyer)
"It was the most attended event in the history of the Politics and International Relations society and I keep having students coming to me saying how much they loved the talk and for some, how it has changed their lives. Most of them also told me that your presence and what you said opened their eyes forever and made them want to get involved in Human Rights and take action...If someday you were to need a student to give a hand to the work undertaken by Cageprisoners, I would be more than happy to be of some help!" (Raphael Zaffran, President, Politics & International Relations Society, Royal Holloway University of London)
“It’s the best of its kind. I know that many of the attorneys on the Defense Team rely on it for information. It serves a tremendous purpose, raising people’s consciousness about shameful practices that are going on all around the world in places like Bagram, Guantanamo, and elsewhere.” (Brent Mickum, US counsel for Guantanamo prisoners)
"May Allah reward you - if it hadn't been for your help and support, this event would not have happened... We appreciate all the help we received from Cageprisoners. Keep going, it is an inspiration to all. Please send brother Moazzam Begg our salaams and all the families of the detained, and also the team who make events possible. Should you need any help or volunteers, we'd like to do whatever we can to help." (Marwo, Student, Richmond Upon Thames College)
"Please pass on to Mr Begg my gratitude for what was a fantastic, moving and horrifying talk. The students were entranced, and genuinely moved by what they heard (it is not usual for so many students to come down at the end). The last speaker we had who generated such a response was two years ago (Frank Gardiner); many, many thanks to Mr Begg, who showed such magnanimity and compassion and serves as an example for how to behave in the face of such adversity." (Dr Anthony Langdon, Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Kingston Grammar School)
"I want to thank you for your contribution last night...JFJHR colleagues said it was their best event so far in terms of content and speakers. We'll be telling our kids all about it at dinner tonight! Thanks again for coming down and sharing your story with us." (Louise Morris, Jewish Forum for Human Rights, Hampstead, London)
"We just wanted to say may Allah reward you for all you have done in making this event happen. It was a huge success, the conference room was packed and we have received so much positive feedback... Finally, we pray that Cageprisoners continues to be successful in its campaign." (Shazia Fazal, Student, University of Leeds)
"This website is an effective tool to bring Muslims together, a forum of action and a chance to do something positive. We must help our brothers and sisters who are not in a position to help themselves.” (Yvonne Ridley, journalist and author)
"Thanks you to you and Cage Prisoners for your cooperation in organising last night's event and for your moving remarks at the end of the event...The response has been tremendously positive. People were really moved, really affected by what they saw and heard last night." (Fareena Alam, Q-News)
“I think Cageprisoners is an excellent website. It is a very professional website. It is a fantastic resource of articles and news on the plight of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere. I find it dynamic, and the forums are so interesting. Keep up the good work!” (Umm Aaisha, sister of Babar Ahmad)
"I knew who you were long before because I read you and I think you do one of the best jobs out there in showing the diversity that is Guantanamo Bay." (Lt. Cmdr Charles Swift, US military counsel for the Guantanamo detainees)
"I really like your website - it is really informative and I use it to keep up to date with all the Muslim news. I recommend it to all my friends and have sent your website address to Scottish journalists too.” (Ann Alexander, member of SACC)
"I have always found your site intriguing Masha'Allah, and I like the flash movie too!!" (Amina Shaikh, British Muslim formerly detained in Palestine)
"I do not have a computer, I'm also not very good with one - I can just about type. I have heard from other people it is really good, and has loads of information on people being wrongly detained." (Janette Belmar, sister of former Guantanamo Briton, Richard Belmar)
“I don’t know when you started your website, but since I visited it the first time, I am really satisfied and I can only wish you the best for your work and I hope Allah will help you to continue with this.” (Sabiha Delic Ait-Idir, wife of Bosnian detainee in Guantanamo, Mustafa Ait Idir)
"Your website is great, the best site I have found till today on the web!” (Emina Susic, wife of Bosnian detainee in Guantanamo, Sabir Lahmar)
"I think it’s a very good way of letting people know about these brothers forgotten by so many and who they are. Insha-Allah it will raise the awareness amongst the Muslims. May Allah reward you all for your efforts." (Umm Abdullah, wife of Guantanamo Briton Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer)
"It’s great! I am following it every day!" (Dr. Najeeb Al Nuaimi, lawyer for over a hundred of the Guantanamo detainees)
"Alhamdulillah, I only got to know about it three months ago. A lot of effort has gone into this site - it is an excellent source of information. I would like to thank each and everyone who has been involved in this website, may Allah reward you all for your efforts." (Habib Rasul, brother of former Guantanamo Briton, Shafiq Rasul)
”Cageprisoners, thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell my story. I feel good about the fact that we have friends who have time for us and want to put right what has gone wrong with this world." (Farhat Paracha, wife of Guantanamo detainee, Saifullah Paracha)
"I didn’t expect this much response and I couldn't have done this without you. I will never forget what you did for us and you will always be in our dua's. ...I know that I wasn’t on my own in this. You really don’t know how much it means to us, Jazak Allah khair." (Mrs. S Khan, wife of UK prisoner)
“I think it is an extremely important site: very useful for campaigners because of the depth you have, which would never be in ordinary media, for example your interview with American lawyer, Brent Mickum, and the story of Umm Anas. I’m certain it is very encouraging for the families that their particular cases are being remembered in this way. Congratulations on the work.” (Victoria Brittain, journalist and activist)
”Keep up the good work!" (Mudassar Arani, Human Rights solicitor)
"I think your website is great. When I wrote my book I thought that it would be wonderful to create a web site like yours and you did!" (Marianne Kremer, author of ‘Defiance at Guantanamo’)
“All our efforts didn’t seem to be going anywhere, all the letters we wrote we just being brushed off, and I felt very down about it. But recently I looked at it, and it’s great. A lot of people told me about it – my husband and brother, and others they said that it’s really good website and you are doing a great job.” (Amani Deghayes, sister of Guantanamo Briton, Omar Deghayes)
”Keep up the good work!" (Mudassar Arani, Human Rights solicitor)
"I think your website is great. When I wrote my book I thought that it would be wonderful to create a web site like yours and you did!" (Marianne Kremer, author of ‘Defiance at Guantanamo’)
“All our efforts didn’t seem to be going anywhere, all the letters we wrote we just being brushed off, and I felt very down about it. But recently I looked at it, and it’s great. A lot of people told me about it – my husband and brother, and others they said that it’s really good website and you are doing a great job.” (Amani Deghayes, sister of Guantanamo Briton, Omar Deghayes)
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