Sir, The belief of the UK residents Jamil El-Banna and Omar Deghayes that they had at last been restored to freedom in Britain after their five-year ordeal in Guantanamo Bay prison camp was cruelly disappointed when, on their arrival before Christmas, they were arrested at the behest of the Spanish Government demanding their extradition to face terrorism charges.

Both the US and British authorities have long been aware of the stale and flimsy evidence on which Spain relies, and both governments have made it clear that they do not regard the release of the men as posing any security threat. Were it otherwise their release would have been inconceivable.

Under the European Extradition Convention the British authorities have little choice but to act on a request from another European state and bring the suspect before the court. Fortunately, when the men were taken to Horseferry Road Magistrates Court, the district judge, Timothy Workman, had the wisdom and compassion to grant them bail pending a full hearing in the new year. They are in court today. However weak these cases may be, and whatever may be the outcome of Spain’s application when it is fully heard, there can be no justification for subjecting the two men to the further ordeal of a prolonged and uncertain legal process after all they have gone through. We call on the Spanish Government to withdraw its ill-considered persecution of these men. They have suffered enough.

Harold Pinter
Baroness Kennedy, QC
Sir Geoffrey Bindman
Victoria Brittain

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