Cageprisoners Press Release:
Control Order Detainee Banned From Contact With Ex-Guantanamo Detainee

Control order detainee Mahmoud Abu Rideh has been prohibited for having any contact with former Guantanamo detainee, Moazzam Begg. Begg has been acting as spokesman and outreach worker for the human rights NGO, Cageprisoners, since 2006.

Moazzam Begg conducted an interview with Palestinian national Mahmoud Abu Rideh on behalf of Cageprisoners in April 2008, to draw attention to his seven year ordeal of detention without charge and life under the strict control order regime. The interview highlighted the tragic impact control orders have had on Abu Rideh’s mental health and family life. The Home Office now claims that the interview was a ‘pre-arranged meeting’ in violation of Mr Abu Rideh’s order, despite the fact that Mr Begg has conducted several interviews with prisoners and ex-prisoners for the organisation via telephone.

Weeks after the interview was conducted, Abu Rideh attempted suicide and was hospitalised. He remained in hospital on hunger strike for more than 40 days, vowing not to eat until he was allowed to leave the UK or his control order relaxed. Begg, in his capacity as outreach worker, spoke to Abu Rideh regularly whilst he was in hospital although he was denied access to visit him; encouraging other individuals to provide moral support to Abu Rideh in the form of visits, letters and gifts. He was responsible for alerting media to the case. Cageprisoners subsequently published the interview, accompanied by photos of a weakened bed-ridden Abu Rideh on hunger strike, and ran a high profile campaign, collecting hundreds of signatures in a petition in support of Abu Rideh.

As part of the revised terms of his order, Abu Rideh is prohibited from any contact with Moazzam Begg. In addition to this, ‘burqa-clad’ women are no longer allowed to enter his home under the pretext that men often use the garment to disguise their identity.

Moazzam Begg, commented:

“It seems evident to me that Mahmoud Abu Rideh - a man innocent of any wrongdoing - has once again been penalised for daring to tell his story. That they [the Home Office] have now decided that he cannot have any communication with me demonstrates - in addition to the new and ludicrous ban on burqa-clad women entering his house - an astonishing level of fear of embarrassment for the way in which Mr. Abu Rideh has been treated.”

Interview transcript and audio: Moazzam Begg & Mahmoud Abu Rideh
www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=25056

Cageprisoners campaign for Abu Rideh
www.cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=754

Photos of Mahmoud Abu Rideh available upon request.

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Cageprisoners is a human rights organisation that exists to raise awareness of the plight of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and other detainee s h eld as part of the War on Terror. We aim to give a voice to the voiceless.

Media

Contact: Moazzam Begg
Email: moazzam.begg@cageprisoners.com
Number: 0044 (0) 7875090494