Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / UK
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

06:25 GMT, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 07:25 UK

UK man charged at Guantanamo Bay

Binyam Mohamed

The only remaining British resident to be held in Guantanamo Bay has been charged with war crimes, American military prosecutors have confirmed.

Binyam Mohamed was charged despite a request from the British government to release him.

If convicted of conspiring to commit terrorism, the 29-year-old from west London could face the death penalty.

Lawyers representing Mr Mohamed say the evidence against him was obtained through torture.

The charges must be approved by the Pentagon official who oversees the tribunal system before he faces court.

'Repeatedly tortured'

The US charge sheet alleges he travelled to Afghanistan in May 2001 and trained at an al-Qaeda camp.

It says he then accepted instructions from al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to conduct terror operations in the US.

Mr Mohamed's lawyers have said he was repeatedly tortured in Morocco and are trying to force the British government to release documents to prove this.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband formally wrote to his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice in August 2007, asking for Mr Mohamed's release.

Mr Mohamed first came to Britain as an asylum seeker in 1994, aged 16. His asylum claim was never finally determined, but he was given leave to remain and went on to work as a cleaner in west London.

His lawyers say he travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2001 in a bid to resolve personal issues after developing a drug problem.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Guantanamo man in plea to Brown (30 May 08 |  UK )
UK Guantanamo inmate in legal bid (06 May 08 |  UK )
UK's 'concerns' over 9/11 trials (12 Feb 08 |  UK Politics )
Q&A: Guantanamo tribunals (12 Feb 08 |  Americas )
Guantanamo man appears in court (20 Dec 07 |  UK )
UK seeks Guantanamo men release (07 Aug 07 |  UK Politics )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Newsnight
Reprieve
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©