CIVILIZATION

British detainees at Guantanamo Bay are "losing their sanity", their lawyers warn today. US lawyers for the four Britons have told The Independent on Sunday that the men face at least two more years in Cuba as the US government blocks every legal move to get them released. Gita Gutierrez, one of the first US defence lawyers to visit the British detainees, said the men were suffering serious mental problems after being held in solitary confinement for two years or more. The only hope of earlier release, she said, was if Tony Blair publicly intervened. "I don't see how their sanity, much less their physical strength, will survive. It's very bad down there," she said. "If they were to remain languishing there, they will be broken and will experience permanent mental and physical deterioration when they leave." She added: "The British government has got to do something." Her remarks highlight mounting fears from lawyers, civil rights groups and psychiatrists about the mental health of alleged al-Qa'ida supporters held without charge or trial at both Guantanamo Bay and in Britain.

As the IoS reveals today, two more detainees held by David Blunkett under emergency terrorism laws have been moved from Belmarsh high-security prison to Broadmoor secure mental hospital. The men, north Africans who came to Britain as political refugees, were moved in the past six weeks after severe mental problems. The transfer takes to four the number of detainees suffering from mental collapses. A Palestinian refugee, Abu Rideh, has been in Belmarsh since trying to kill himself last year, while the fourth man, who has polio and is known only as "G", was released on bail but put under house arrest after a special tribunal ruled he was too mentally ill to stay in Belmarsh. Gareth Peirce, the London-based lawyer for many of the detainees, said: "Both men reached a life-threatening condition in Belmarsh prison and have been driven to severe mental illness and delusional thoughts and behaviour." (...)

A TALE OF TWO PRISONS

BELMARSH

Who's there?

Eight foreign nationals are held in Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons under anti-terrorism powers introduced after the 11 September attacks. A further three are held at Broadmoor, and one is under house arrest. Two names are known: Abu Qatada, a Palestinian Muslim cleric granted asylum 10 years ago, and Abu Rideh, a Palestinian refugee, in Broadmoor.

What are they there for?

They are held under legislation allowing the Home Secretary to indefinitely detain without trial any foreign national he suspects of involvement in international terrorism.

What are conditions like?

The UN's Committee on Torture expressed concern at conditions in Belmarsh and urged the Government to review alternatives to indefinite detention.

GUANTANAMO

Who's there?

Around 550 detainees from some 40 countries, including four British citizens - Moazzam Begg from Manchester, Feroz Abbasi from Croydon, Richard Belmar and Martin Mubanga - plus four British residents without citizenship.

What are they there for?

The US claims the men are "enemy combatants", most of whom are thought to have been captured by the US and their Northern Alliance allies during the 2001 war in Afghanistan. They are all alleged to have had some involvement in international terrorism or ties to the Taliban. Only four detainees have been charged.

What are conditions like?

According to the Pentagon, it "operates a safe, humane and professional detention operation". The Red Cross takes a different view.


Guantanamo Britons 'losing sanity' as fears grow for terror suspects held in UK
By Severin Carrell and Francis Elliott
The Independent
12 December 2004