For exactly 100 days today, Guantanamo detainees have been on hunger strike, protesting against their arbitrary detention, inhumane treatment and desecration of the Qur’an by US guards. It is the longest and widest reaching hunger strike since the camp was opened in 2002. Nearly 130 of the 166 men still detained are taking part in this hunger strike, with many now suffering the brutality of force feeding. 86 of them have been cleared for release several years ago, including Shaker Aamer, the last British resident detained for over 11 years without charge or trial.

As part of a weekend of global action, we kindly request that you dedicate your khutbah to highlight this situation, hence supporting these oppressed Muslims and  justice. In order to assist you, CagePrisoners has prepared a template khutba providing you with all the necessary Islamic and factual references relevant to the topic. 

Since 2010, Theresa May has taken UK citizenship away from 16 people - all ethnic minorities (and some British born) whom she claimed held a second passport. Two of these men were later killed in American drone attacks and others have been kidnapped, held in secret and rendered to America. The British government should be protecting the human rights of all its citizens, not treating these rights as inconveniences they can sign away!  Please sign this petition calling on Keith Vaz and the Home Affairs Select Committee to investigative and end the racist citizenship deprivation laws.

Avaaz.org community petitons: Stop the government from stealing citizenship!

Related Materials:

Losing citizenship and protection from the courts

Mahdi Hashi: How easy is it to lose British citizenship?

France about to strip off French nationals of their citizenships

Mahdi Hashi: How easy is it to lose British citizenship?

Making a difference

Since its launch in October 2003, CagePrisoners has become a leading human rights organisation.  We have carried our many high profile campaigns and produced ground-breaking reports on the lack of due process and the rule of law in the aftermath of the War on Terror.  If you are committed to fighting for justice and the rule of law, then this may the ideal opportunity for you.

We are currently looking to employ an Operations Manager and Communications Officer for the organisation. Applicants should be proactive and have a real desire to make a difference by leading CagePrisoners into new areas of work and develop the organisation.

Post Title:                          Operations Manager

Hours:                                37 hours per week              

Location:                           London

Salary:                               £25,000 - £28,000  (dependant on experience)

You can find full details of the role by downloading the job description and person specification.

JOB DESCRIPTION

PERSON SPECIFICATION

All applications should include the following:

1. Full Curriculum Vitae (this must include two references with email address and telephone numbers).

2. A cover letter explaining your interest in the role.

All applications should be made by Tuesday 30 April 2013 by either post or email:

Address:              27 Old Gloucester Street

                              London

                              WC1N 3XX

Email:                   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For further information, please call Muhammad Rabbani on 0207 377 6700

Mohammad Momin Khawaja was the first individual charged under anti-terror legislation in Canada. Even though it was proven that Khawaja was not involved in any terrorist plot, he was handed over a 10.5-year sentence. However, the Canadian Court of appeal extended this sentence to a lifetime in prison. This verdict was confirmed by the Supreme Court.

CagePrisoners requests all our supporters to contact the Canadian authorities to review the case. Please read the family’s appeal below.

To know more about the case of Mohammad Momin Khawaja

Read CagePrisoners’ interview with Mahboob Khawaja

Family’s appeal

Subject:  In Search of Justice for Mohammad Momin Khawaja in Canada, Supreme Court of Canada final verdict of December 14, 2012

In March 2004, when arrested on bogus accusations of “terrorism’, M. Momin Khawaja was 23 years old, recent graduate in computer science, hafiz of al-Qur’an and active community worker. In March 2009, the trial judge sentenced Momin Khawaja to 10.5-years with 5 years to serve for parole eligibility, accused of “terrorism” in Canada and abroad. But there was no tangible evidence except his e-mails to prosecute him in a court of law. When in 2008, he was tried in Canada, he had already spent almost five years in detention but was not credited for this time. The trial Judge acquitted him of terrorism charges related to a London bomb plot accusation due to lack of evidence - this was the focal point of the prosecution. A US informant turned witness Junaid Babur testified in the trial that Momin Khawaja had no involvement in any bomb making nor had knowledge of the London group’s plans.

The original sentence was based on the fact that he donated $859 to a Pakistan-based afghan charity fund of displaced women and children that they claim had link to Al Qaeda. He attended a camp for one day in North West Pakistan, travelled to the UK to meet some youngsters who were later charged with certain crimes.  This was appealed at the provincial court and three judges extended the original 10.5 years into life and a 24 years sentence without hearing any evidence or facts of the case. The same formula is being used by the Supreme Court to authenticate the previous appeal's verdict and gave him consecutively one life sentence and 24 years to start consecutively with 10 years to be served for parole eligibility. There is no surety, he will ever be eligible for parole. The Supreme Court used the official myth of Islamic terrorism, making claim to be sending a strong message to all concerned.

There is no “terrorism” flourishing in Canada except propagated by the few warmongers and the war industries.  Momin Khawaja has not committed any crimes of terrorism, nor harmed anyone anywhere. His e-mails were used to prosecute him essentially based on thought crime. One of the Supreme Court judges hearing the appeal, made it known that there was no crime committed by him (Momin) nor charged to be given the life sentence.  Few others judges had similar questioning of the previous unfair verdict. Yet, all have signed the final verdict.

The case demonstrates built-in prejudice and unfair treatment towards Muslims and the people of Arab origins mostly covered by the term “terrorism.”

We request all concerned citizens to write to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and to the Prime Minister of Canada asking to revisit the case or other legal options to deliver justice. The important points should be:

1. What rational or justifiable criteria is implied to deliver an exceptionally harsh and unfair sentence to Momin Khawaja?  The original sentence of 10.5 years was increased to a life plus 24 years consecutively to be served with 10 years for parole. The final judgment lacked any evidence-based reasoning to substantiate the conclusion except political and religious animosity.

2. Momin Khawaja was acquitted by the trial judge of involvement in the London bomb plot. He has no criminal record and never posed any threat or violence to anybody on this planet.

3. Momin was not considered for double credits of the time served (9 years) as it is applicable to all inmates under the Canadian laws and justice system.

4. There were a wide range of opinions and discussions amongst the judges at the final Supreme Court hearing in June 2012, questioning the previous unfair verdict of the Ontario Appeal Court. But in the end, they all signed the document perpetuated most unfair and unjust conclusion lacking evidence and rational justification.

5. There is no balancing act between the original sentence of 10.5 (ten and a half years sentence with 5 years for parole) and unusually increased harsh sentence to Life with 24 years to be served consecutively – 10 years for parole. This is clearly a travesty of justice.

6. The writer should ask the Chief Justice and the Prime Minister (politely and logically) to review the case and to deliver justice based on the merits of the case. Surely, public concerns will have direct impact. Both addresses are as follows:

Right Honorable Beverley McLachlin, P.C.

Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Canada

301 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0J1 Canada

Fax:     1- 613-941-5817

Right Honorable Mr. Stephen Harper

Prime Minister of Canada, Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2   Canada

Fax: 1- 613-941-6900

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The work of CagePrisoners since 2003 has sought to highlight strategic partnerships between the West and East in the global ‘War on Terror’. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has played a key role in assisting the US by housing detainees and even permitting the rendition of individuals from Saudi soil – cases like that of Sabri ben Kahla[1], are demonstrative of such relationships. 

Through investigation work, CagePrisoners has learned from seven individuals detained in city of the Prophet Muhammad, Madinah, that abuse, torture, arbitrary and incommunicado detention is being practised routinely as part of the national security apparatus.  

 The government recently announced a review of Schedule 7 powers to stop and detain people especially Muslims at UK ports ending on Thursday 6 December 2012. This is the first time that this power has ever been reviewed publically and so opportunity presents itself for communities to air their concerns. CagePrisoners urges you to take action today.

The government recently announced a review of Schedule 7 powers to stop and detain people at UK ports ending on Thursday 6 December 2012.  This is the first time that this power has ever been reviewed publically and so opportunity presents itself for communities to air their concerns. CagePrisoners urges you to take action today. 

CagePrisoners has written to the Saudi Arabian Government calling on it to act swiftly to intercede in the case of Khalid al-Fawwaz who has been held without charge fighting extradition to the US from inside a prison cell for the past fourteen years, making him the longest ever detained without charge individual in British history.

CagePrisoners urges the Egyptian Government to call for the repatriation of Adel Abdel Bary, held in British prisons for 13 years without trial

Support Karl Watkins’ Private Prosecution of Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan