Omar case goes to White House

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Nov 3, 2005

Byline: Andrew Jackson ,

in captivity Omar Deghayes

THE case of a former Huddersfield student caged in Guantanamo Bay is to go to the White House.

Omar Deghayes, who was seized in Pakistan in 2002, is detained at the US base in Cuba.

He has been on hunger strike for 13 weeks.

Omar, 35, joined a legal practice course at Huddersfield University in 1998, but never completed it.

Now, US bureaucrats are to review the case after a high-level meeting in Brussels between UK politicians and campaigners and White House staff.

Omar's brother, Abu Baker Deghayes, Green Euro-MP Dr Caroline Lucas and Jackie Chase and Tom King, of the Justice for Omar campaign, handed over a dossier to US political adviser Kyle Scott.

Dr Lucas said: "Every day Omar is in Guantanamo is another day of his life lost to unlawful detention.

"The US must charge him with a crime or release him. Also, the UK Government must do everything in its power to allow him to return home to his family."

The meeting took place while campaigners were in Brussels to present detail's of Omar's case to Euro-MPs and human rights activists from across the European Union at a peace conference.

Dr Lucas added: "I am glad the White House is to examine the details of Omar's case, the detailed analysis of the breaches of US and international law caused by his continued detention and a petition which demonstrates the high level of community support for Omar's swift and safe return.

"I hope it will respond positively, and quickly, as Omar's life remains in grave danger, due to his hunger strike."