Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Christian plea for last British Resident in Guantanamo Bay 


Human rights campaigners in Wales are urging Foreign Secretary William Hague to make a fresh public plea for the return of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident detained in Guantanamo Bay

 
One of more than 100 detainees on hunger strike at the US base, Aamer has been held for more than eleven years - despite being cleared for release six years ago.

'What is happening to this man is a disgrace', said Baptist minister the Revd Roy Jenkins, chair of the Welsh churches' campaign Christians Against Torture. 'We have welcomed the government's insistence that it wants him back in this country, but are worried that any further delays might prove fatal.

'We are appalled and ashamed at the way Shaker Aamer continues to be treated. He has been repeatedly and extensively abused. He has spent long periods in solitary confinement, has lost a huge amount of weight, and is very weak. There are real fears that he might not survive this ordeal.

'He has never been charged with any offence, still less convicted, and we believe our government has an obligation to step up its demands for his return to this country to be reunited with his wife and children.'

Christians Against Torture supporters have been writing to their MPs and to the Foreign Secretary urging pressure on the US for his transfer. They joined more than 100,000 people across Britain in an e-petition which resulted in a recent parliamentary debate.

A previous Guantanamo campaign by the Welsh group focussed on Omar Deghayes, who was released shortly after a petition urging his return to Britain was presented at 10 Downing Street.

Christians Against Torture, launched in 1981 by the former Council of Churches for Wales, is an agency of Cytun, Churches Together in Wales. 
It involves Christians of all traditions in working and praying for the abolition of torture and the care of its victims, of all faiths and none.
 

    Post     Tweet
Project Violet: Council affirms commitments to action
Baptist Union Council receives and affirms the commitments to action on women’s experience of ministry made from across Baptists Together in response to the findings of Project Violet
Collaboration; contextual approaches - first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Collaboration in sharing the gospel and a recognition that contrasting, contextual approaches are all needed to help people encounter Jesus were key themes at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Prayer bulletin for very small Baptist churches
A number of small, often rural, Baptist churches are being strengthened in their ministry by an initiative which sees them praying for each other on a regular basis
The Centre for Baptist Ministry at St Hild College officially launches
St Hild College has celebrated the launch of the Centre for Baptist Ministry during an event at St Thomas Crookes in Sheffield
A unified call to mission and renewal
Andy Glover reports on the recent day of prayer and fasting, which saw gatherings take place in all Associations, as well as online
We Will Repay - reparations study resource
A new study resource designed to help churches and Christians delve into the discussion of reparations on biblical terms has been released
     Latest News 
    Posted: 26/02/2024