Website reveals 6000 held without trial
There are more than 6000 Muslim prisoners who are being held without trial in the West, according to a human rights campaigner.
Yamin Zakaria, based in London, has now launched an international campaign to highlight the plight of the detained – including the 660 men being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Part of the campaign is a new website which seeks to bring western nations to book for flouting international obligations and trampling upon the rights of others, he says.
Yamin Zakaria told Aljazeera.net on Tuesday that he hoped www.prisonerofwest.org would highlight the plight of over 6000 prisoners kept in detention without charge or legal representation.
“Since the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 incident, the US has exported pain, misery and death to thousands of innocent people in the name of an unjustified War on Terror.”
Although the site has only been going a couple of weeks, thousands are already beginning to visit the website each day.
Comfort to relatives
Zakaria said Prisoners of the West would also give support to relatives of the detainees and place some pressure on authorities to allow fair trials.
“Many people know about the human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay and Baghram prison in Afghanistan … but thousands are being held around the US and Europe without charge.”
“Even in Britain – which has criticised other nations for human rights violations – there are Muslims held without charge or legal representation.”
Collecting hidden information
Although the site only has 15 reseachers at the moment, Zakaria says they have been able to name nearly a third of the prisoners held at Guantanamo.
US authorities have refused to release any information about detainees.
The website also promotes a boycott of US products. “This will send out a message to the International bully regarding its unjust policies towards weaker nations.”