A Message From Jahida Sayyadi, Mother Of Bisher Al Rawi

Bisher has been held unlawfully in Guanatanamo for four years

After four years of suffering and deep sadness my beloved son Bisher Alrawi is still far away from me, from the people he loves and from his home. He is being kept prisoner in one of the most terrifying places in the world. This has naturally left its tragic impact on my personal life and the lives of the other members of the family. This horrifying event has left me very emotional and strained, for it is my dear son whose destiny and life are under jeopardy.

In November 2002 my two sons Bisher and Wahab Alrawi and their two friends travelled to the Gambia, a Commonwealth country. They wanted to start a peanut processing oil factory, But the journey which was suppose to lead them to success ended as a nightmare for every one involved.

At Banjul airport all four men were abducted by the US and Gambian intelligence service agents. After several months Bisher Alrawi and his friend Jamel Al Banna were taken to the notorious “Dark Prison” in Bagram, Afghanistan. There both men were imprisoned underground in isolation and darkness and were tortured for over two weeks. Their legs were shackled 24 hours a day. They were starved, beaten, kicked and dragged along floors while shackled. Round the clock screams from the fellow prisoners made sleep impossible. (The above account was taken by Bisher’s tribunal paper work submitted by his lawyer Brent Mickum)

A month later they were taken to Guantanamo Bay where they remain to this day.

In my solitude I can feel my son’s agony, and I wonder every day why he was abducted, what is it they want from him, why is he being tortured to this day? I have raised my son to respect the rights of others. I tried my utmost to enable him to understand and respect the law, and I think I have done a good job.

Our only hope is to find justice in the British courts. We lost the case in the High Court. On the 22 March 2006 one hour before the court hearing I received a letter through our lawyer from the then foreign secretary Jack Straw. He decided to make representation in principle to the US for the release of Bisher and return him to his home in the UK. It has now been more than seven months and I have been waiting desperately for Bisher to come home. I have not received any letters from Bisher since March 2006. I am very worried about his situation. According to the lawyer Clive Stafford Smith who has been in Guantanamo, Bisher is in isolation, severely tortured and is suffering inhuman and degrading treatment.

My intention here is to present the facts and ask people to judge my son’s detention based on these facts. I also urge the readers to take into account the human rights of my son and his democratic right to a free and fair trial. It is high time this Injustice is ended. I hope that those who cherish freedom and respect law will take a just stand, given that my son is innocent. I am confident that Bisher hasn’t done anything wrong during his 20 years in UK, and I know he does not deserve this treatment.

I shall continue to suffer the agony of this Injustice till I see the Justice is done for Bisher and the others.

I would also urge Tony Blair to pressure the US to close Guantanamo Bay permanently.

In the end I would like to thank every body who has been trying really hard to help us in this grave situation.

Regards
Jahida Sayyadi

Source: Cageprisoners