Reprieve Welcomes Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates' 'Full Commitment And Cooperation' In Seeking To Prove The Innocence Of British Resident Binyam Mohamed, Held In Guantánamo Bay
22.04.2008
By letter mailed on 18 April 2008, Portuguese Prime Minister, José Sócrates, has stated that he would co-operate fully with an investigation into Portuguese complicity in the US practice of extraordinary rendition to secret prisons around the world, including Guantánamo Bay.
Investigation by Reprieve indicates that Portugal has apparently helped the United States render over 700 prisoners to Guantánamo Bay over a period of three years, and that numerous CIA rendition planes have flown through Portugal. Some of those planes are known to have been en route to or just back from transferring prisoners to torture in secret locations around the world, including the British Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia.
Reprieve’s Director Clive Stafford Smith has requested urgent help from the Portuguese authorities in the case of Binyam Mohamed, a British resident transferred to Guantánamo Bay through Portuguese territory. The Portuguese have in their possession evidence favourable to Mr. Mohamed as faces the prospect of trial by military commission at Guantánamo Bay.
Portuguese Head of Cabinet Pedro Lourtie wrote to Mr. Stafford Smith: “The Portuguese Government has followed the issues involved by the so-called ‘renditions’ with the utmost concern and attention.” He went on to write: “The Prime Minister has … asked me to reiterate his total willingness to contribute fully to the investigation of this case and any other possible violations of the applicable national and international principles and norms.”
However, Mr. Loutie emphasized that the Prime Minister only plans to make disclosures through the criminal investigation pending in Portugal, which is looking into possible crimes committed by Portuguese officials.
Reprieve’s Director Clive Stafford Smith said:
“I am very pleased that Mr Socrates has decided to provide this evidence. If Portugal cooperates fully as the Prime Minister has promised, this will help Binyam Mohamed and other prisoners in Guantánamo Bay prove their innocence. Other European countries such as the UK should take a leaf out of Portugal’s book.”
Mr. Stafford Smith further admonished:
“However, there is no reason why evidence should only be given to the prosecutors. If our goal is to avoid an unfair trial in Guantánamo, and perhaps even capital punishment, then the government should provide evidence freely to the lawyers of those who can prove the prisoners’ innocence.”
Back story:
Reprieve’s investigation has revealed Portugal’s complicity in the rendition of over 700 men to torture, illegal imprisonment and death penalty in Guantánamo Bay and other US secret prisons.
On 10 April 2008, Reprieve’s Director Clive Stafford Smith wrote to Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates requesting favourable evidence to help prove the innocence of British resident Binyam Mohamed, who is facing the imminent probability of a ‘kangaroo trial’ through Guantánamo’s military commissions, where the death penalty is a possible punishment. Mr. Mohamed was apparently rendered through Portuguese territory in the Azores to Guantánamo Bay.
Mr. Mohamed was tortured in unspeakable ways in US secret prisons in Morocco, Afghanistan and now in Guantánamo. In Morocco, he underwent 18 months of horrific torture, which included periodically having a razor blade taken to his penis.
Reprieve has also requested evidence related to the possibility that notorious rendition plane N379P which transited Porto en route to and from Rabat in September 2002 was transporting Mr. Mohamed’s torturers to Morocco.
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For further information, contact Andy Worthington, Communications Officer of Reprieve, at +44 (0)20 7353 4640 or andy@reprieve.org.uk
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