From today, friends and family of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident left in the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison camp, will be fasting in support of him. They will go without food for a minimum of 24 hours to highlight his plight. From the Fast for Shaker website:
On 25th September 2015, the US told the UK that Shaker Aamer, the last British resident held in the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, will be released and returned to his family in the UK after being held for nearly 14 years without charge or trial.
By US law, 30 days’ notice must be given to Congress before any prisoner can be freed from Guantánamo, and in the meantime Shaker has embarked on a hunger strike protesting constant and ongoing abuse and his fears that, in his weakened state, he won’t live to see his family again.
To show solidarity with Shaker, his lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, celebrities, MPs, Shaker’s family, campaigners and supportive members of the public are pledging to undertake a hunger strike of their own, starting on 15th October, for a minimum of 24 hours.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake has pledged to fast next Monday:
#FastForShaker I will be fasting on 19th October to support Shaker Aamer, the last British citizen in Guantanamo Bay http://t.co/aDbRKqScIm
— Tom Brake MP (@thomasbrake) October 14, 2015
Are any readers taking part? If so, tell us what has motivated you to do so.
2 Comments
Impressive. It’s good to see us leading on this.
Well done, Tom…. and comforting to know Clive Stafford Smith on the case.