Like many other cases we have studied in class, When the truth's held captive: Omar Othman's
release and Britain's Shame, by
Victoria Britain is an article about Omar Othman, a UK resident who was a
victim of extraordinary rendition, subjected to torture, and held without trial
for years. Othman was initially allowed
into the UK as a refugee "fleeing despots and torturers." Without any
concrete evidence, not only was Othman held captive for years and tortured but his entire family had to face embarrassment
and public harassment. Othman was a
respected scholar and clerk and the Muslim community looked up to him and his
principles and even the prison guards at the UK prison respected him.
Furthermore, the only time that Othman was ever heard from was when "he
came to the aid of the authorities by making public appeals for the lives and
release of two British men held as hostages." Prior to 9/11, the UK had seen a refugee in
Othman but post 9/11 he was seen as an increasing threat that needed to be taken
care of. Othman was imprisoned for years without trial and the two times that
his lawyers did manage to get him out, he had to remain in house arrest. This
was the man that Bob Quick, the former head of counter terrorism, described as
" very dangerous....with extreme views." There is much in the media
about how Othman cannot, under any circumstances, ever return to the UK. Other
controversies around the case include his condemnation of ISIS. Very little is said about holding the
government accountable for what he endured. It is appalling that this is what the media
and the public focuses on as the issue of human rights, torture and
discrimination is brushed aside, to keep the British government's involvement
in the rendition and other such operations shrouded. This is interesting, when taken into
consideration that Britain has a sizable population that is radically
anti-Islam.
It no
longer amazes me that Othman, like many others we have read about, was held
without trial and had to tolerate the horrors of torture, public defamation,
indefinite detention, and separation from his loved ones. What does amaze me is
that without any evidence or charges, not only him but his entire family and
even his friends endured so much. His acquaintances were captured and tortured
in Guantanamo, as officials sought more information on Othman. They were only
released after threats of dragging the government along with its involvement in
torture and other horrors of Guantanamo were made. Even the European Court of
Human Rights denied Othman's appeal against deportation.
It
seems like those who condemned him were afraid
that he was a man of "significant influence" or that he had
the ability to "influence views of others and their conduct." Yes, he
was so influential that his prison guards treated him properly. He was so
influential that officials thought him worthy enough to use him to make a
public plea for the life of British nationals. Similarly, he was well respected
by young British Muslims and the general Muslim community in Britain. Somehow,
being a well-respected and religious Muslim has become the only criteria needed
to condemn a well-respected man as "Al Qaeda's European ambassador." Ultimately,
Othman was deported after officials in UK and Jordan came to a consensus that
information that was retrieved by torture would not be used against him in
trial. His release by the Jordanian
court has many implications. Beyond highlighting the British government's
inadequacy in dealing with such cases, it paints a dim picture of what awaits
ahead of us for the US and the UK. It is also in the hands of the civilian to
be aware of these issues and to not let such gross ignorance impact our
decision making process. We must educate ourselves on both side of an issue and
question our government and demand accountability. It is scary to think that ignorance has
proliferated so widely, even among the most respected members of the
government-- the people we trust to make the right decisions. As the article
correctly points out, the U.S and the UK have no idea what they are getting
into in the middle east. If we continue to hide behind the cloak of ignorance,
self-deception, and ethnocentrism, the wars will never end.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/when-truths-held-captive-omar-othman-s-release-and-britain-s-shame-1700109416
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