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 Zubeida Malik
The Today programme has seen the first uncensored letter from aÌýBriton being held at Guantanamo Bay. In the letter, Moazzam Begg says he has been tortured and abused.
Thirty-six year old Begg, from Birmingham, has been at the US military base in Cuba without charge for more than two years. He sent the letter to his lawyers. You can read a full transcript of the letter below the images.
The Foreign Office told us in a statement that the welfare of the British detainees atÌý Guantanamo Bay has been a priority for the Government from the outset, saying thatÌýBritish officials have visited Guantanamo to check on the British detainees' welfare on more occasions than any other government has for its nationals.
They said they have raised complaints with the US authorities and are continuing to pursue them. The Foreign Office also saidÌýthat during these welfare visits, Moazzam Begg has never alleged that he has been systematically abused at Guantanamo Bay, in the way that is being suggested. They said that Mr Begg has said that he was mistreated at Bagram, in Afghanistan, and that the government have raised this with the American authorities who are investigating. The Foreign Office said "We take allÌýallegations of abuse of BritishÌýnationals abroad seriously."Ìý
Text of the letter:
12th July, 2004
U.S. FORCES ADMINISTRATION
JTF/ JDOG, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
RE: Supplementary Exposition (of Statement dated 5th July, 2004)
I, Moazzam Begg, citizen of The United Kingdom of Great Britain, attributed the number 00558 (camp Echo), have felt it necessary to augment, and further clarify the above noted statement, and to accentuate my grievances and intentions.
After over 2½ years in the custody of the U.S. military without charge, and by extension, without jurisdiction, I have yet to be afforded basic rights normally granted under the constitution of the U.S.A., and international law. I therefore demand, unconditionally and irrevocabley(sic), that I be released immediately and returned to my family and domicile in the U.K., together will all possessions: including all items and monies confiscated by U.S./ Pakistani "agents" from my residence in Pakistan on 31st January 2002.
In the likely event that these demands are outrightly rejected or unncecessarily procrastinated, I demand the following rights under U.S. law:-
1. A thorough and peremptory explanation of all statutory rights available within U.S. legislature, particularly with respect to foreign nationals.
2. Any and all charges/ allegations be presented unambiguously, and written.
3. Full access to international phone calls in order to communicate with family and lawyers.
4. Full access to legal representatives of my own choice and appointment.
5. A fully inventoried list detailing all property seized (as mentioned above).
6. Regular and timely access to postal communication with family and a halt to the obscuring and witholding of mail from home.
In addition to the aforementioned rights, I make it known that I expect logical and reasonable answers for the following violations and abuses, and intend to seek justice and accountability:-
i) The exact purpose for my abduction, kidnapping and false imprisonment on 31st January 2002, under the auspices of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement.
ii) Subsequently, what legal jurisdiction they had for taking me forcibly to Afghanistan.
iii) By what legal authority was property and money confiscated, leaving my wife and young children destitute and penniless, in their wake.
iv) Why I was brought into a designated war zone, and my life put at risk.
v) Why I was physically abused, and degradingly stripped by force, then paraded infront(sic) of several cameras toted by U.S. personnel.
vi) The reason for being held in Bagram detention facility for a year, and consequently, being denied natural light and fresh food for the duration.
vii) The exact purpose for my incarceration in solitary confinement since 8th Feb, 2003!
viii) Why all news pertaining to my own situation has been barred from me.
ix) The justification for witholding most of my family mail, and incongruent obscurance of what little amounts have trickled through - even from 8 year olds!
x) Why phone calls and legal representation have been continually denied, despite several reassurances to the contrary.
xi) Why, despite copious requests, I have yet to meet with a chaplain during all this time.
xii) What was the legality and purpose of extracting my signature on a statement, in early February 2003, by F.B.I and C.I.T.F agents, under threats of long term imprisonment, summary trials and execution - all without legal representation.
2. I state here, unequivocally and for the record, that any documents presented to me by U.S. law enforcement agents were signed and initialled under duress, thus rendered legally contested in validity. During several interviews, particularly - though unexclusively - in Afghanistan, I was subjected to pernicious threats of torture, actual vindictive torture and death threats - amongst other coersively employed interrogation techniques. Neither was the presence of legal counsel ever produced, or made available.
3. The said interviews were conducted in an environment of generated fear, resonant with terrifying screams of fellow detainees facing similar methods. In this atmosphere of severe antipathy towards detainees was the compounded use of racially and religiously prejudiced taunts. This culminated, in my opinion, with the deaths of two fellow detainees, at the hands of U.S. military personnel, to which I myself was partially witness.
In spite of all the aforementioned cruel and unusual treatment meted out, I have maintained a compliant and amicable manner with my captors, and a cooperative attitude. My behavioural record is impeccable, yet contrasts immensely to what I have experienced, as stated.
I am a law abiding citizen of the U.K., and attest vehemently to my innocence, before God and the law, of any crime - though none has even been alleged. I have neither ever met Usama bin Laden, nor have been a member of Al Qaidah - or any synonymous paramilitary organisation, party or group. Neither have I engaged in hostile acts against the U.S.A., nor assisted such groups in the same - though the opportunity has availed itself many a time, and motive.
Regardless of the outcome of all my appeals to sanity, and protestations over the years, I reiterate my intention to seek justice at every possible level available to me. It is with that intent that I have prepared duplicates of this statement: for the information and use of the authorities and courts of justice.
I have requested this document be perused by the camp NCO; the generality of its contents be recorded in the Camp log; and forwarded to the appropriate intended recipient.
(Signature)
MOAZZAM BEGG (00558)
Dated this twelfth day of July, 2004.
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