Release
The British government protested the Guantánamo tribunals, because due process rights were sharply limited. On 11 January 2005, the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw announced that after "intensive and complex discussions" between the U.S. and the British government, the four British citizens remaining in Guantanamo Bay would be returned to Britain "within weeks". While they were still regarded as "enemy combatants" by the U.S. government, no specific charges had been brought against them.
Bush released Begg as a favor to Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was being harshly criticized for his support of the Iraq war, reported The New York Times (based on information from U.S. officials it did not name) and CNN.
On 25 January 2005, Begg and the three other British citizen detainees (Feroz Abbasi, Martin Mubanga, and Richard Belmar) were flown back to RAF Northolt in west London, the U.K. on an RAF aircraft. On arrival they were arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police, and taken to Paddington Green police station for questioning under the Terrorism Act 2000 by anti-terrorist officers. By 9 pm on 26 January, all four had been released without charge.
Read more about this topic: Moazzam Begg
Famous quotes containing the word release:
“The near touch of death may be a release into life; if only it will break the egoistic will, and release that other flow.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“We read poetry because the poets, like ourselves, have been haunted by the inescapable tyranny of time and death; have suffered the pain of loss, and the more wearing, continuous pain of frustration and failure; and have had moods of unlooked-for release and peace. They have known and watched in themselves and others.”
—Elizabeth Drew (1887–1965)
“If I were to be taken hostage, I would not plead for release nor would I want my government to be blackmailed. I think certain government officials, industrialists and celebrated persons should make it clear they are prepared to be sacrificed if taken hostage. If that were done, what gain would there be for terrorists in taking hostages?”
—Margaret Mead (1901–1978)