It is reported that Shaker Aamer has been threatened with transfer from Guantánamo Bay to Saudi Arabia, a country he fled nearly 30 years ago. Shaker reported to his lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, that Saudi government officials recently visited him and warned him he faces prison on his return to the country. There have been previous attempts to forcibly transfer Shaker to Saudi Arabia, which he has always resisted. Shaker told his lawyer: "They will hear me screaming in London if they try to drag me away from here to Saudi Arabia. I will resist them every step of the way. I wish to be with my wife and my kids in London. I need to go back to them."
He believes he may be transferred there this month. I fear the US has encouraged the Saudis to take Shaker. The US may wish to punish him for speaking out about the abuses in Guantánamo. It is possible that UK security services, M15 and M16, have also lobbied for Shaker to be transferred to Saudi Arabia. There he would be silenced. The UK agents would no longer have to face Shaker's allegations of torture in Afghanistan in their presence. The US appears to have no regard for the many appeals made by the UK government. The US would seem to have no regard for Shaker's human rights or safety, or the rights of his British family. The UK government must speak out publicly and demand Shaker's immediate return to the UK, especially in light of this latest shocking information. Shaker Aamer must be returned from Guantánamo to the UK. He has been cleared for release, he faces no charges. He has suffered over 11 years of illegal imprisonment. He must not be sent for further abuse or even death in Saudi Arabia.
Joy Hurcombe
Worthing, West Sussex