Tuesday, 21 July 2009

Control order causes suicide risk

Mahmoud Abu Rideh, Palestinian refugee, who has been imprisoned in the UK for 71/2 years unlawfully without trial before being placed under a 'control order', while his wife and children left to move to Jordan, has three times attempted suicide in despair that he may never see his family again.

His mental and physical health have been severely damaged through his treatment by British authorities; he is confined to a wheelchair.

Under the terms of the order, he has to remain inside his home for 12 hours per day and to phone a monitoring company three times a day. Any visitors must first be approved by the Home Office and he is not allowed to use the internet.

Any breach of these restrictions is considered a criminal offence.

On 10th June, 2009, the Law Lords ruled unanimously that we have the right to know the information used against us to impose control orders. They said that if such information is kept secret, we are unable to challenge the allegations against us.

Write to Home Secretary Alan Johnson, calling on him to lift the control order on Mahmoud Abu Rideh and ensure he continues to receive any medical attention he needs.
www.amnesty.org.uk/aburideh

3rd July update: The Home Office has deigned to allow Mahmoud an exit visa.
Amnesty International UK counter-terrorism campaigner Sara Macneice said:
'It is very welcome news that Mahmoud Abu Rideh will now be able to leave the UK and seek entry to a safe country, and will no longer be subjected to the repressive measures of his Control Order, which have driven him to utter desperation.
'I have spoken to Mr Abu Rideh and this decision has given him real hope that he may now be reunited with his wife and children, and be able to rebuild his life.
'Amnesty is supporting Mahmoud Abu Rideh's application for a UN travel document, to which he should be entitled as a refugee. However he seems willing to apply for an inferior document in order to leave the UK as soon as possible. The Home Office should issue this document to him promptly, rather than subjecting him to yet more delays.
'This is a minor victory for one man, but the pernicious system of Control Orders, which has driven him and his family out of the UK, remains in place. Amnesty continues to call for an end to the Control Order regime and its replacement with measures which respect people's basic human rights.'

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