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Cageprisoners.com
24th September 2004, 12:33 AM
“Each day seems like a year, time seems to be frozen. I feel lost; sometimes I think I am in a tunnel with no light at the end.” (Detainee B, HMP Belmarsh)



INTERVIEWS

YVONNE RIDLEY (http://www.cageprisoners.com/interviews.php?aid=3322)

“I thank Allah I was captured by the so-called 'most evil brutal regime in the world' and not by the US military.”

Yvonne Ridley is an award-winning journalist of more than 25 years standing and author of two books, In The Hands of the Taliban and Ticket to Paradise. She has spent the last 10 years working for several prestigious Fleet Street newspapers including The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Express. She has also expanded into television and radio producing several documentaries from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yvonne hit the headlines in September 2001 when while working for the Daily Express she crossed illegally into Afghanistan and was subsequently held captive by the Taliban for 11 days. Following her release, she read the Qur'an as she had agreed to during her captivity, and converted to Islam in the summer of 2003.

Cageprisoners.com spoke to her about her time in captivity, her activities since her release and the situation of Muslims in Britain.



CAMPAIGNS

Books Not Bars For Rachid Ramda (http://forums.cageprisoners.com/showthread.php?p=2467)

Rachid Ramda, an Algerian asylum seeker, has been detained in Belmarsh maximum security prison for the last nine years - even though he has not been convicted of any crime. He spent the first six years of his detention in a Special Secure Unit (SSU), where his mental and physical health suffered. But he now acts as a lifeline for others and interprets for some of the men held without charge under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

After his six years in SSU, Rachid got access to education and completed an Open University course in English literature. He would like to study another two Open University subjects this year. However, the prison authorities have raised a variety of objections; the latest is funding. If Rachid is to enrol for the courses in time for the new term he needs to pay around £500. His solicitor is appealing for donations to raise this sum.

Please click here (http://forums.cageprisoners.com/showthread.php?p=2467)if you would like to make a contribution.




EVENTS


CIVIL LIBERTIES UNDER THREAT

Victoria Brittain, Anas Al Tikriti, Janet Alder and local campaigners

Friday 24th September, 7pm, Indus Restaurant, Longsight.

For more information, click here. (http://forums.cageprisoners.com/showthread.php?t=805)


CAMP X RAY GHOSTS OF GUANTANAMO - BRADFORD


Saturday 25th September 2004 5.45pm
National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford

Gillian Slovo, Vivian Yates and Azam Begg with be the guest speakers

For more information, click here. (http://forums.cageprisoners.com/showthread.php?t=796)



FROM BEHIND BARS

A Scream For Help From Guantanamo UK (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3283)

“Is it permissible for me to take my own life, knowing (believing) my soul has no value?”

The following letter was forwarded by a sister who is in contact with some of the Muslims incarcerated in Belmarsh person without trial under the Terrorism Act. The author, Mr B (name disguised for legal reasons), dictated this letter to one of his cellmates as he himself is severely disabled (his arms have been amputated to his elbows) and yet he has been detained for more than two years with no access to trial or due legal process. On his request we have transcribed his letter as a reminder not to forget the plight of our Muslim brothers and sisters imprisoned here and around the world.

Words of Wisdom Part 6 (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3321)
by British Political Prisoner Babar Ahmad

Where Would I Be Without The Qur’an? (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3323)
A poem by British Political Prisoner Babar Ahmad




CREATIVE PROTEST

Babar Ahmad (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3324)
A poem adapted from the khutbah by Sheikh Habdan, “Who Will Stand Up For the Muslim Prisoners?”, and dedicated by an anonymous brother to Babar Ahmad.



ARTICLES

After Abu Ghraib (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3315)
by Luke Harding
Huda Alazawi was one of the few women held in solitary in the notorious Iraqi prison. Following her release, she talks for the first time about her ordeal.

Fourth Circuit to Moussaoui: Ask Your Questions, Prepare to Die (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3311)
by Elaine Cassel
The prosecution of Moussaoui in the Alexandria, Virginia federal court has been a tortured one—not in the sense of physically abusing the defendant, but in the prosecutor’s abuse of the law and legal process.

Irate Judge Orders Gov't to Hand Over Detainee Records (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3293)
by Jim Lobe
In a victory for human and civil rights groups, a federal judge has given the government 30 days to turn over or identify all documents relating to the treatment of detainees held by the United States at military bases and other detention facilities overseas, including at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Lost In Arabic Translation (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3278)
by Souheila Al-Jadda
The federal government's lack of Arabic translators and the insufficient understanding - and consequent poor translation - of the language by the translators it does have may mean more Arab-Americans, immigrants, and foreigners could find themselves caught up in the government's dragnet.

Out of the Brig (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3279)
by Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
The agreement to free Yaser Esam Hamdi represents a stunning reversal for the Bush administration, which argued for more than two years that the former Taliban fighter was potentially so dangerous that he had to be detained indefinitely in solitary confinement with no access to counsel and no right to trial.

Hamdi: The High Cost of Freedom (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3280)
by Kari Lydersen
After three years held captive in a Navy Brig, U.S. citizen Yaser Esam Hamdi may soon go free. But at what cost?

If Sabotage & Assassination are Okay...What's Wrong with Torture? (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3281)
by Jennifer Van Bergen
Is torture wrong? What does the Bush administration think? One way to analyze this is to trace ideas wrought by post-9/11 conservative analysts whose views mirror and expand upon those in the administration

'Everyone In The Dock' In Kabul Trial (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3282)
by Andrew North
After dragging on almost two months - with just six actual court sessions - the strange trial of the three Americans accused of torture and running a private jail has come to an abrupt and dramatic end. At least for now.




NEWS

Detainee 'D' To Be Freed From Britain's Guantanamo (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3320)

Anti-terror Measures 'Alienate Muslims' (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3325)

Judge Says Government Must Justify Custody at Guantanamo (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3326)

French Judges Order Terror Trial (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3327)

Judge Declines to Dismiss U.S. Airman Spy Case (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3328)

Labor 'Kept In Dark' On Hicks (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3329)

Ohio Imam Sentenced (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3330)

Father Of British Guantanamo Detainee Allowed To Visit Son (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3313)

Three Pakistanis Left At Guantanamo (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3314)

Manipur Strike Against Terror Law (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3316)

Saudi Jails 'Seditious' Academic (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3317)

Arrests 'Cut Terror Threats In Region' (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3318)

Howard Pledges Anti-terror Squad (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3319)

Freed Guantanamo Detainees Caged In Islamabad (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3306)

UK Ministers 'Kept In Dark' Over Abuses At Abu Ghraib (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3307)

Khadr Teen's Rights Trampled (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3308)

Embassy Attack Brings 4 Arrests (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3309)

Pakistan Militants 'On The Run' (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3310)

Pakistani Guantanamo Prisoners Freed (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3295)

Abu Hamza May Be Charged In The UK (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3296)

Guantanamo Lawyer Moves To Question Former Presidents (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3297)

Lawyer Told Khadr To Boycott Hearing (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3298)

Iraqi 'Militants' Held After Raid (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3299)

India Withdraws Anti-terror Law (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3300)

Indonesia Drafts Tougher Anti-terror Laws (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3301)

Three Held After Attack On Karzai (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3302)

Ruddock Failing In Duty Over Hicks: QC (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3303)

New Study Highlights Discrimination In Use of Anti-Terror Laws (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3304)

Detained (Not Under Arrest) (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3305)

Police Claim Guantanamo Moroccans Linked To Terrorists (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3312)

UK To Get Tougher Over Guantánamo Detainee (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3284)

Abu Hamza in Court
(http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3285)

Army Drops Charges Against Guantanamo Colonel (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3286)

Rights Watchdog Urges End To Guantanamo Commissions (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3287)

Khadr Allegedly Confesses To Terrorist Activities (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3288)

Dismissal Urged for 2 on Guantanamo Panel (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3289)

'Terror Recruiters' Charged In US (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3290)

Hamdi Could Be Home This Week (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3291)

Abuse Charges in Afghanistan (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3292)

India Withdraws Anti-terror Law (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3294)

France's Treatment of Freed Detainees Raises Civil Liberties Concerns (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3261)

Presiding Officer At Guantanamo Faces Questions (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3262)

Bahrain Detainees Can Meet Lawyers (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3263)

'Enemy Combatant' Release Likely Soon (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3264)

US Bounty Hunter Jailed For 10 Years (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3265)

UK Officers Linked To Torture Jail (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3266)

Two Alleged Taliban Cases Go Before Panel (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3267)

Inmates Sue to Force Training for Iraq Interrogators (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3269)

Honorable Discharge Granted To Army Chaplain (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3269)

Five Held In French 9/11 Inquiry (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3270)

Spanish Police Make 10 Terror Arrests (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3271)

Two Jemaah Islamiah Detainees Released (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3272)

Pakistan Offers Amnesty to Terror Suspects (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3273)

Indonesia Detains Couple in Embassy Blast (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3274)

Dutch Report Terror Arrests In July (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3275)

More Than 500 Nabbed In Pakistan After 9/11 (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3276)

US Troops Face New Torture Claims (http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=3277)



COMING SOON

Interview with Clive Stafford Smith