Britain’s Guantanamo

EIGHT MEN, imprisoned on suspicion of being ‘linked to’ terrorism, are
suffering from: "Major depressive anxiety disorder and some are experiencing
post-traumatic stress disorder".

Clare Wilkins

The men have been imprisoned without trial for nearly three years in
Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons. They were all arrested soon after the 11
September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. They were arrested using the
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. Classified as Category A
prisoners they are locked up 20 to 24 hours a day. Six of the men are from
Algeria, one from Tunisia and one from Gaza in Palestine.

A team of eleven consultant psychiatrists and one consultant psychologist
interviewed the eight men and three of their wives. Their report shows that
all of the men have self-harmed and considered suicide.

The psychologist says of the conditions in which the men are held: "Where
they have no control of their own situation, this is a sense of mental
torture". This is especially so because they have no information about why
they are being detained and almost no contact with their families.

The medical team found an alarming similarity in the symptoms of depression
and anxiety that the men are suffering. Some of the detainees have developed
psychotic symptoms that they did not have before they were imprisoned.

The psychiatrists do not consider that the men’s mental health problems can
be alleviated while they remain in detention. Indeed: "It is highly likely
that they will continue to deteriorate".

Post-traumatic stress

All three wives who were interviewed also show signs of clinical depression
and one has post-traumatic stress disorder due to her husband’s arrest.

The men’s lawyer says that the Home Office was considering transferring
four of the eight to Broadmoor, a high security mental hospital.

Police had questioned none of the men before they were arrested. They have
not been charged with any offence nor have they been told anything about any
evidence against them.

They are being held solely on the basis that the Home Secretary: "Has a
suspicion that they are linked to a person or group that might be said to be
supportive of the aims of al-Qa’ida".

One of the psychiatrists said that all the men have a sense of hopelessness
and helplessness because, unlike other prisoners, they have no idea of when
they will be released and no chance of parole.

Three of the detainees experienced detention and torture before they came
to Britain. The way they are now being treated is "reminiscent" of their
previous trauma.

Recently the men have had a number of privileges withdrawn. They are only
allowed books in their own languages if they can pay for an accurate English
translation. They are no longer allowed to receive clothes.

Professor Nigel Eastman, who chaired the meeting at the Royal College of
Psychiatry about the findings, said that it was not for the experts to
question the need for the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act. The findings
touch on the mental effects of the legislation and: "Whether as a society, we
should have laws that override ordinary civil rights".

Britain is the only country of the 45 states in the Council of Europe to
have suspended the legal right to trial in this sort of case. Along with the
USA, Britain has a policy of indefinite detention.