Shaker Aamer: Last 'British' prisoner in Guantanamo to be released after 13 years

The father-of-four was accused of working with al-Qaeda but was never charged with an offence and maintained his innocence

Shaker Aamer has never been charged or tried with an offence (PA)

The last “British” prisoner in Guantanamo is to be released and returned to the UK after years of lobbying by relatives, diplomats and human rights groups.

Shaker Aamer has been held in the notorious jail for more than 13 years without charge after being imprisoned in Afghanistan on suspicion of working with al-Qaeda.

In a report released by Reprieve earlier this year, he described horrific torture at the hands of US interrogators who allegedly told him they would rape his five-year-old daughter.

Shaker Aamer with two of his children (PA)

The US Government has now pledged to send him back to the UK, after the required period for Congress to be notified of the decision.

A spokesperson for the British Government said diplomats and politicians had “regularly raised” Mr Aamer’s case with American authorities, adding: “We support President Obama’s commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

“In terms of next steps, we understand that the US Government has notified Congress of this decision and once that notice period has been concluded, Mr Aamer will be returned to the UK.

“As the US has said, we have one of the most robust and effective systems in the world to deal with suspected terrorists and those suspected of engaging in terrorist related activity and we will continue to do all we can to protect people in Britain and around the world from the threat of terrorism.”

The children of Shaker Aamer, pictured in 2012 (Jason Alden)

David Cameron personally raised Mr Aamer’s case with Barack Obama most recently in January and a Parliamentary group was formed for his cause.

The prisoner was born in Saudi Arabia but gained British residency while living in the UK with his wife and four children, who he has not seen for 14 years.

Mr Aamer maintains he had been in Afghanistan working for a children’s charity and signed a false confession in 2001 because he would have “told them he was bin Laden” to make the torture stop.

According to a medical report written by an American doctor who visited him in prison, it did not.

Dr Emily Keram concluded that Mr Aamer suffers from acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), migraines, digestive problems, swelling, asthma and tinnitus, recommending urgent treatment for the “serious medical concerns” in the UK.

Reprieve, Amnesty International and other groups have been lobbying for Mr Aamer’s release for several years.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said news of his release was a “huge relief” for Mr Aamer’s family and supporters after years of work.

A Guantanamo detainee runs inside an exercise area at the detention facility April 27, 2010 (Getty)

“In the past Mr Aamer has reportedly been at death’s door during a hunger strike and his return to his family in Britain won’t come a moment too soon,” she added.

“The immediate focus should now be on providing medical and other support for Mr Aamer on his return to the UK, but let’s not forget that his 13-year ordeal at Guantánamo has been an absolute travesty of justice.

“Shaker Aamer is the last UK resident to finally get out of Guantánamo and his return to Britain brings a long, painful chapter to a close.”

Ms Allen said Amnesty’s fight for the other 100 detainees in Guantanamo “was not over” and said the US must charge them and ensure a fair trial, or release them.