Cageprisoners releases its Annual Report for 2010 – 2011

Download the report

The assassination of Osama bin Laden by the US in Pakistan can, in all likelihood, be identified as one of the most significant incidents of 2011. A War on Terror that was begun, specifically to seek out and destroy him, has proven to reach far beyond the individual. Rather, what we have seen over the last decade, is that the War on Terror has been indiscriminate in its killing and detention of human beings.

Last year, Cageprisoners took on the task of looking into extrajudicial killings, particularly in relation to drone strikes. Initially we were concerned with the issue because we saw it as the ultimate form of removing due process from an individual. However, we are more dedicated than ever, because we have come to see the impact of these drone strikes on the affected communities. People from Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen are more angry than they have ever been due to the complete disregard the American establishment has for human life.
 
While the impact of these drone strikes is felt deeply in the affected countries, the sentiment of anger and alienation is finding itself also in the UK. As the attacks increase, the British security agencies have stepped up their harassment of Muslims from those countries, on the assumption that somehow the sense of anger will find itself in the UK. Such assumptions have already resulted in gross abuses of human rights, as more criminalised communities are being created.
 
While we have decided to take on work relating to extrajudicial killings, we have not allowed it to distract us from the very important work we have been doing on Guantanamo, secret detention and counter-
terrorism policies around the world. Currently our staff and interns are working on major projects including:
  • Analysis of counter-terrorism policies in France and French complicity in renditions and torture abroad.
  • How non-Muslims in the UK have been impacted by counter-terrorism legislation.
  • US domestic counter-terrorism policies focussing on procedural impropriety and disproportionate sentencing within the federal justice system.
  • A major revision to our previous Detention Immorality report, looking into the extent of detention without charge in the UK.
With the tenth anniversary of Guantanamo fast approaching, Cageprisoners has also initiated a major project called Laa Tansa—Never Forget, which we will be releasing in January 2012. Our hope, is that we will be able to leave a lasting legacy about the abuses that took place in Guantanamo Bay.  
 
It is only through the Grace of Allah SWT that Cageprisoners still continues to function today and that we are able to continue helping those who are in great need.

(NOTE: CAGE represents cases of individuals based on the remit of our work. Supporting a case does not mean we agree with the views or actions of the individual. Content published on CAGE may not reflect the official position of our organisation.)