Reprieve Press Release:
Portugal Urges EU States to Take In Freed GTMO Detainees

Reprieve is delighted that Portugal has become the first European state to offer a home to prisoners currently stranded in Guantanamo Bay. These are men who cannot be sent back to their home countries for risk of persecution.

In a letter sent to his European Union counterparts, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado said Portugal was willing to grant refugee status to detainees who could not return to their home countries.

President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to close the prison in Cuba, currently holding around 250 men. With today's pledge, Portugal has taken the lead in European efforts to assist the new Obama administration in closing Guantanamo.

Portugal is the first EU Member State to offer such direct assistance, but Reprieve hopes that other European countries will match this offer.

Clive Stafford Smith, Director of Reprieve said: "There are many prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay who have long since been cleared to leave that terrible prison. Ironically, they had to fight to stay in Guantanamo, because the Bush Adminisration wanted to send them to countries that would torture them some more, and no other nation would offer them a home. Portugal has done the right thing by these prisoners, by justice, and by the new Obama administration, to start repairing the damage done in the past few years. We urge other European states to follow suit."

Ana Gomes, Portuguese MEP said: "I hope other European states will appreciate the importance of this move by Portugal. I urge those governments to take similar steps in order to close this shameful chapter in transatlantic relations and to start assuming responsibility on a European level for the cooperation provided to the outgoing Administration in the framework of the so-called 'extraordinary renditions programme'"

Sarah Ludford, British MEP and member of the European Parliament Temporary Committee on Illegal Detentions, said: "I welcome the fact that at last an EU member state has had the integrity to take a lead in assisting the resettlement of Guantanamo prisoners cleared for release after their long illegal detention. MEPs including me have been urging such a move for a long time. It is some recompense for past collusion in the abuses of CIA rendition. Other EU states including the UK must now follow suit, to help Barack Obama remove this stain on America's reputation."

For further information please contact: Clare Algar - Clare.algar@reprieve.org.uk / 0207 427 1099

Reprieve is engaged in a joint effort with CCR, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and FIDH calling on European countries to reach out to the new administration and accept refugees.

Reprieve is a legal action charity, founded by Clive Stafford Smith in 1999. Reprieve uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantánamo Bay. We investigate, litigate and educate. Working on the frontline, we provide legal support to prisoners unable to pay for it themselves, promoting the rule of law around the world, and securing each person's right to a fair trial. In doing so, we save lives.