Cases: Ahmed Belbacha (Guantánamo Bay)
Fled death threats in Algeria
Ahmed Belbacha was born to a large middle-class family in Algiers in 1969. After finishing his national service, he worked as an accountant for Algeria’s major oil company, Sonatrach, until 1997. He loved playing football and played for the company team, which was one of the best in the country.
Whilst working at Sonatrach, Ahmed was recalled by the army. At this point he received death threats from the Groupe Islamiste Armee (GIA), who are known for killing people after they have completed their military service.
Fearing for his safety, Ahmed obtained a visa in early 1999 and left Algeria for England, where he lodged a claim for asylum. While his application was pending, Ahmed lived and worked in Bournemouth, first at a laundry and then temporarily at the Swallow Royal Hotel. Ahmed was responsible for cleaning John Prescott’s room during the 1999 Labour Party conference, and even received a thank you note from Prescott and a tip for his service.
Around this time, Ahmed was having increasing difficulty finding steady work. He told a friend in Bournemouth that he wanted to study in Pakistan, then come back to England, when he hoped his job prospects would be better. Many Muslims at the time went to Pakistan to study the Koran, as education was free. Ahmed left the UK for Pakistan with a friend in June 2001. He had a return ticket dated six months later.
In Pakistan, Ahmed’s friend suggested they see what life was like in Afghanistan, a Muslim country. This was well before 11 September, and Afghanistan at the time was relatively peaceful. After 11 September and the impending invasion, Ahmed realized it was not safe for him to stay. He fled, hoping to make it to Islamabad, from where he could fly back home to the UK. After crossing the border from Afghanistan in December 2001, Ahmed was seized in a small village and eventually turned over to the US, apparently for a bounty. He was interrogated by the CIA, moved to Kandahar, where he suffered severe abuse, and then eventually transferred to Guantánamo.
In Guantánamo, Ahmed was denied a lawyer or any legal rights for four years. Reprieve counsel was only permitted to visit him after a protracted legal battle. On 22 February 2007, Reprieve received an email from the US military stating that Ahmed ‘has been approved to leave Guantánamo , subject to the process for making appropriate diplomatic arrangements for his departure.’
Now that the US authorities no longer want to hold Ahmed prisoner, the question is: where will Ahmed go? After the death threats he received, for Ahmed to return to Algeria would be fraught with danger. In June 2003, while Ahmed was in Guantánamo and unable to help with his own case, his UK asylum appeal was denied. However, he was granted exceptional leave to remain in the UK. The UK government has refused to help Ahmed, on the grounds that he is a resident, not a citizen.
Ahmed is represented by Reprieve's Legal Director, Clive Stafford Smith, and by Reprieve’s Senior Counsel, Zachary Katznelson.
Letters to Ahmed should be sent to:
Ahmed Belbacha
ISN 290
Camp Delta
US Naval Base Guantánamo Bay
Washington, DC 20355
USA
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