Bring Binyam home
Bring Binyam Home
A report on Sunday's initiative in Tafalgar Square
15.06.2008
On Sunday 15 June, while President Bush was visiting the UK as part of his farewell tour, Reprieve, the legal action charity, held an event in Trafalgar Square to express grave concern at the way ‘terror suspects’ are being treated in the so-called ‘War on Terror’, and, in particular, to apply pressure on President Bush and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to work together to secure the release of London resident Binyam Mohamed, who has been held by, or on behalf of the US authorities since April 2002.
During this period Binyam was rendered to Morocco and the CIA-run ‘Dark Prison’ in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was tortured for over two years. The methods used by the United States’ proxy torturers in Morocco included having his genitals cut with razor blades on a regular basis, and in Morocco and the ‘Dark Prison’ music was also used as a form of torture. In Morocco, he was chained to a chair and had music blasted through earphones strapped to his head for days on end, and in the ‘Dark Prison’, a medieval torture prison with the addition of 24-hour music and noise, played at ear-splitting volume, Eminem’s ‘Slim Shady’ and other music by Dr. Dre – interspersed with a cacophony of sounds such as planes landing, babies crying and ghost laughter – was played for 20 days straight.
Binyam’s plight is particularly pressing, as he has just been put forward for trial by Military Commission at Guantanamo. This novel system, conceived in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, has been condemned as a ‘kangaroo court’ by Lord Steyn, a British law lord (now retired). Reprieve is anxious to secure Binyam’s release not only to prevent him from being subjected to this injustice, but also because, if the trial goes ahead, evidence of his torture by the United States – and of Britain’s complicity in his rendition and torture – will be unveiled, to the acute embarrassment of both governments.
The injustice of Binyam’s treatment, and the fact that the most basic of human rights are being violated by the US administration, provided a potent rallying call for Sunday’s event, which was well-attended. It was an occasion of colour and exuberance but one that highlighted an extremely pertinent and sinister subject.
Large placards with Binyam’s picture on one side and on the other the message to Gordon Brown – “Brown, Bring Binyam Back” – were carried around Trafalgar Square. Visual imagery was employed to make the message more potent, with cuffed and hooded prisoners kneeling in front of the crowd. Highlighting the use of music for torture, children’s TV star Barney the Purple Dinosaur – whose music has also been used for torture – made a personal, unauthorised appearance, and a lively and talented ten-piece band played a new version of the ‘Barney’ theme song (itself a version of ‘Nick-Nack Paddywhack’ aka ‘This Old Man’), with new lyrics written especially for the occasion.
The musicians were passionately accompanied by supporters, including representatives of cosmetics company Lush, wearing the giant fluorescent orange ‘Fair Trial My Arse’ underpants that were first used in March when Lush launched an initiative in support of Reprieve throughout its UK stores.
Also attending were a number of eminent supporters of Reprieve, including members of Massive Attack, who have made Reprieve their charity partner for Meltdown 2008 at the Southbank Centre, and who are supporting Reprieve’s ‘Pull the Plug on Torture Music’ campaign, which calls for musicians to demand that their music not be used for torture purposes.
Reprieve sincerely hopes that the event brought Binyam’s profoundly disturbing case to the forefront of Mr. Brown’s mind and that he was able to raise the issue with President Bush during his last visit to the UK. In addition, the event attracted press coverage and a large audience of Londoners and tourists, which allowed Reprieve to publicise the fact that torture takes place in our name.
What you can do:
o Write to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband asking them to bring Binyam Mohamed home.
o Write to your MP about Binyam Mohamed’s case, asking them to request that Gordon Brown does everything in his power to bring Binyam home.
o Make a donation to Reprieve. We rely entirely on donations in order to provide legal support to prisoners like Binyam, who are unable to pay for it themselves. Please set up a monthly standing order to support us at: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/donate.htm.
o Write to Binyam in Guantánamo Bay with a message of support:
Binyam Mohamed
ISN 1458
Camp Delta
US Naval Base Guantánamo Bay
Washington, DC 20355
USA
Song Lyrics:
“Bring Binyam Home”
In honour of Barney the Purple Dinosaur, and his cast of supporting characters: Katy the Kangaroo Court, and Roger the Razorblade. To the tune of ‘Nick-Nack Paddywhack’ – the same tune used in Barney’s ‘I love you, you love me’, a song employed as part of the torture of prisoners in the United States’ ‘War on Terror’ prisons.
1. This poor man, in a cell,
Music is his living hell!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
2. Rock and roll, children’s song,
Bursting eardrums isn’t wrong!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
3. Laws for us, not for them,
Nameless people we condemn –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
4. Men in suits, men in ties,
Making them confess to lies –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
5. You should sign, just say yes,
We won’t make your face a mess–
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
6. We want men, take five grand,
Say he shook Osama’s hand!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
7. Don’t much care, if it’s true,
We’ve got Freedom’s work to do-
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
8. Head in hood, arms in chains,
Backs bent to increase the pain –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
9. Burning lights, tortured nights,
Just give them Iguana’s Rights!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
10. If we make, cowboy laws,
We’re not good guys any more-
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
11. Mister Bush, Gordon Brown,
Time to close this torture town –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
A report on Sunday's initiative in Tafalgar Square
15.06.2008
On Sunday 15 June, while President Bush was visiting the UK as part of his farewell tour, Reprieve, the legal action charity, held an event in Trafalgar Square to express grave concern at the way ‘terror suspects’ are being treated in the so-called ‘War on Terror’, and, in particular, to apply pressure on President Bush and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to work together to secure the release of London resident Binyam Mohamed, who has been held by, or on behalf of the US authorities since April 2002.
During this period Binyam was rendered to Morocco and the CIA-run ‘Dark Prison’ in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was tortured for over two years. The methods used by the United States’ proxy torturers in Morocco included having his genitals cut with razor blades on a regular basis, and in Morocco and the ‘Dark Prison’ music was also used as a form of torture. In Morocco, he was chained to a chair and had music blasted through earphones strapped to his head for days on end, and in the ‘Dark Prison’, a medieval torture prison with the addition of 24-hour music and noise, played at ear-splitting volume, Eminem’s ‘Slim Shady’ and other music by Dr. Dre – interspersed with a cacophony of sounds such as planes landing, babies crying and ghost laughter – was played for 20 days straight.
Binyam’s plight is particularly pressing, as he has just been put forward for trial by Military Commission at Guantanamo. This novel system, conceived in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, has been condemned as a ‘kangaroo court’ by Lord Steyn, a British law lord (now retired). Reprieve is anxious to secure Binyam’s release not only to prevent him from being subjected to this injustice, but also because, if the trial goes ahead, evidence of his torture by the United States – and of Britain’s complicity in his rendition and torture – will be unveiled, to the acute embarrassment of both governments.
The injustice of Binyam’s treatment, and the fact that the most basic of human rights are being violated by the US administration, provided a potent rallying call for Sunday’s event, which was well-attended. It was an occasion of colour and exuberance but one that highlighted an extremely pertinent and sinister subject.
Large placards with Binyam’s picture on one side and on the other the message to Gordon Brown – “Brown, Bring Binyam Back” – were carried around Trafalgar Square. Visual imagery was employed to make the message more potent, with cuffed and hooded prisoners kneeling in front of the crowd. Highlighting the use of music for torture, children’s TV star Barney the Purple Dinosaur – whose music has also been used for torture – made a personal, unauthorised appearance, and a lively and talented ten-piece band played a new version of the ‘Barney’ theme song (itself a version of ‘Nick-Nack Paddywhack’ aka ‘This Old Man’), with new lyrics written especially for the occasion.
The musicians were passionately accompanied by supporters, including representatives of cosmetics company Lush, wearing the giant fluorescent orange ‘Fair Trial My Arse’ underpants that were first used in March when Lush launched an initiative in support of Reprieve throughout its UK stores.
Also attending were a number of eminent supporters of Reprieve, including members of Massive Attack, who have made Reprieve their charity partner for Meltdown 2008 at the Southbank Centre, and who are supporting Reprieve’s ‘Pull the Plug on Torture Music’ campaign, which calls for musicians to demand that their music not be used for torture purposes.
Reprieve sincerely hopes that the event brought Binyam’s profoundly disturbing case to the forefront of Mr. Brown’s mind and that he was able to raise the issue with President Bush during his last visit to the UK. In addition, the event attracted press coverage and a large audience of Londoners and tourists, which allowed Reprieve to publicise the fact that torture takes place in our name.
What you can do:
o Write to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband asking them to bring Binyam Mohamed home.
o Write to your MP about Binyam Mohamed’s case, asking them to request that Gordon Brown does everything in his power to bring Binyam home.
o Make a donation to Reprieve. We rely entirely on donations in order to provide legal support to prisoners like Binyam, who are unable to pay for it themselves. Please set up a monthly standing order to support us at: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/donate.htm.
o Write to Binyam in Guantánamo Bay with a message of support:
Binyam Mohamed
ISN 1458
Camp Delta
US Naval Base Guantánamo Bay
Washington, DC 20355
USA
Song Lyrics:
“Bring Binyam Home”
In honour of Barney the Purple Dinosaur, and his cast of supporting characters: Katy the Kangaroo Court, and Roger the Razorblade. To the tune of ‘Nick-Nack Paddywhack’ – the same tune used in Barney’s ‘I love you, you love me’, a song employed as part of the torture of prisoners in the United States’ ‘War on Terror’ prisons.
1. This poor man, in a cell,
Music is his living hell!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
2. Rock and roll, children’s song,
Bursting eardrums isn’t wrong!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
3. Laws for us, not for them,
Nameless people we condemn –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
4. Men in suits, men in ties,
Making them confess to lies –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
5. You should sign, just say yes,
We won’t make your face a mess–
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
6. We want men, take five grand,
Say he shook Osama’s hand!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
7. Don’t much care, if it’s true,
We’ve got Freedom’s work to do-
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
8. Head in hood, arms in chains,
Backs bent to increase the pain –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
9. Burning lights, tortured nights,
Just give them Iguana’s Rights!
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
10. If we make, cowboy laws,
We’re not good guys any more-
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
11. Mister Bush, Gordon Brown,
Time to close this torture town –
Razorblade, waterboard,
Cut him to the bone!
Gordon Brown, bring Binyam Home!
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