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10 years ago I ran the London marathon in an orange jump suit & chains (https://www.justgiving.com/running4justice/) to highlight the plight of people like Shaker Aamer, held in Guantanamo Bay and subject to inhumane treatment. Shaker is the last British resident held in Gitmo, he was cleared for release in 2007 by the UK and US governments.
It is a scandal that he is still there. I aim to put as much pressure on the UK and US governments to press them to stick to their word...and release Shaker Aamer back to his family before April 26th 2015, the date of the London marathon....otherwise I will run the entire marathon in that orange jump suit again.
I have written a letter to my MP asking him to attend the official launch of my marathon run- at the House of Commons on 25th November:
" Thursday 6 November 2014
Dear Sajid,
As you know, on the very day you were elected to Parliament in 2010, I
raised the case of Shaker Aamer who has been cleared for release from
Guantanamo since 2007 by both the UK and US government. This has not
happened, yet detainees have been returned to Yemen and Kuwait since.
Are the US really saying that the Yemen is more secure than the UK?
There is no reason why Shaker has NOT been returned to the UK, other
than the security services own embarrassment at their involvement in
his interrogation at Bagram airbase in 2002 and elsewhere (as shown in
both the Times and Mail on Sunday).
The time has long since passed when he should have been returned to his
family in South London. For a man who has spent most of the last decade
in solitary confinement whilst being brutally forcefed, I am reminded
of the words of the Suffragettes 100 years ago who suffered similar
treatment. The time is for "Deeds not Words". The next Save Shaker
Parliamentary meeting will be in House of Commons, London Committee
Room 9 on Tuesday 25th November, it would be my pleasure to meet you
there, if you can attend, or if not explain what specific actions the
UK government is taking to seek his return this side of the general
election?
Yours sincerely,
Dr David Nicholl
"13th November, 2014
Dear Dr Nicholl
Thank you for your email dated 6th November about the detention of Shaker Aamer.
I share your concern about Mr Aamer's continued detention in Guantanamo Bay. I believe it is vital that he is released as soon as possible and returned to the UK so that he can be reunited with his family.
The Prime Minister personally raised Mr Aamer's case with President Obama at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland and later wrote to the President reaffirming the importance the UK places on the request for Mr Aamer's release. The Former Foreign Secretary, William Hague, also raised the case with the US secretary, John Kerry, in June this year.
Securing Mr Aamer's release is a high priority for the Government and I understand that it has been using all diplomatic channels available to communicate this. Foreign Office Ministers have often reiterated that the British Government's policy is unchanged- that it will support the efforts in the United States to close Guantanamo Bay and to seek the return of UK residents and nationals.
While any decision about Mr Aamer's release ultimately remains in the hands of the United States Government, please rest assured that I support the UK Government's efforts as it does all in its power to seek his return.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards
Sajid Javid, MP"
You can sponsor me by text via
Texting SHAK47 with the amount (£1, £5, £10, £20 etc) to 70070 to sponsor me today. MANY THANKS David