Print this Email this

Freedom for Four Uighurs

22 June 2009, 10:33AM

man swimming
© Brennan Linsley/AP Photo. Ablakim Turahun takes a swim after years in Guantanamo.

“When we didn’t have any country to accept us, when everybody was afraid of us…Bermuda had the courage and was brave enough to accept us.”

Abdulla Abdulgadir; One of the four men transferred to Bermuda.1

Amnesty International welcomes Bermuda's acceptance of four men who have been illegally detained at the US naval base, Guantanamo Bay. On the 7th October 2008, a US Federal Court judge ordered the release of all of the 17 Uighurs onto the US mainland2. The only Uighur to be transferred to US soil to date has been Yaser Hamdi after it was discovered in 2002 that he held US citizenship3, but this was not due to any judicial decision only executive discretion. The remaining Uighurs have been waiting for a country to accept them due to concerns of them being at risk of torture and execution if they returned to their native China.

After the transfer, the Government of Bermuda issued a statement saying;

“Those of us in leadership have a common understanding of the need to make tough decisions and to sometimes make them in spite of their unpopularity; simply because it is the right thing to do… I can say on behalf of the Government, we are confident this decision is the right one from a humanitarian perspective”4.

There has been some political backlash in response to the transfer. The opposition party, United Burma Party (UBP) has tabled a vote of no confidence in the Premier of Bermuda. The media has also attacked the Government of Bermuda alleging that they were paid off $200 million to take the Uighurs even though it was agreed openly and transparently that the US would pay for relocation and settlement costs at a total cost of $90 000 per person; a far cry from $200 million alleged by the Associated Press5. The British Government has also aimed criticism at the Bermudan Government because they were not consulted about the transfer. The UK Government believes that they should have been consulted due to Bermuda being an overseas territory of the UK. The acceptance of the men is subject to a security assessment by UK authorities before the transfer becomes permanent6. Amnesty International is concerned that the Uighurs are being used as a political pawn and that politics has transcended the human rights concerns for the remaining men in Guantanamo.

Amnesty International believes that the USA holds the 'primary responsibility' in resolving the cases of all of the men being held in Guantanamo Bay, whether that be to finally repatriate them to their home countries or a third country, bringing them to US soil, or prosecution in a court which complies with international fair trial standards. Amnesty believes that 'it is unacceptable that domestic political considerations continue to block release into the USA' because this has led to a reluctance of other nations to take in the detainees themselves7.

For now, the four Uighurs can enjoy their freedom. However, their long term fate still rests in the hands of the UK government.

References

  1. Amnesty International Report. "USA: Human Rights Must Transcend Party Politics." p. 1. Available at; http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20090617003&lang=e

  2. See Amnesty International "US government appeals release of Uighurs at Guantánamo"

  3. ibid.

  4. Amnesty International Report. "USA: Human Rights Must Transcend Party Politics." p. 1.

  5. see Stuart Beck. "The Myth of the $12 Million Uighur".

  6. Amnesty International Report. "USA: Human Rights Must Transcend Party Politics." p. 2.

  7. see full Report

Features and analysis

Alyawarr women

Healthy homelands

An Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is showing the government how to close the health gap.

A pregnant woman in Sierra Leone

Childbirth in Sierra Leone

Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.

cards of support created by Australian children

Harming Children

Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.

These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now

Comments

Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.

1

Sophie
23 June 2009, 09:15PM Notify the web editor

Here’s to the freedom of these men - FINALLY!!
Now, if only Australia and other so called ‘civilised’ and ‘humane’ nations would resettle the remaining Uighur men and other prisoners who cannot be charged with any crime and cannot return to their homelands…

Page 1 of 1 pages

 

Sorry, commenting is no longer available in this weblog entry.

Make an impact

Guantanamo Bay© US Dept of Defence

One year ago President Obama pledged to close Guantanamo Bay. Tell Prime Minister Kevin Rudd you support its' closure and the resettlement of detainees.

3423 others have taken this action. Be the next:

Act now

Stay Informed

Sign up for email updates

Subscribe using RSS

Get Involved

Stop torture and ill-treatment i
© David Herthnek

The 'war on terror' has been used by the US and its allies as an excuse to condone torture. Help to build a secure community - by donating today.

Donate