Amnesty International Ireland has today called on the Government to follow the lead of France and accept Guantánamo prisoners.
The organisation urged the Taoiseach to deliver on his commitment to accept those detainees who have been cleared for release but cannot be returned to their homes because of the risk of imprisonment and torture.
Yesterday saw the arrival of Guantánamo detainee Lakhdar Boumediene in France.
“The French government is taking a step to help consign detention facility at Guantánamo to history,” said Amnesty International Ireland programmes director Noeleen Hartigan.
“Lakhdar Boumediene has been held at the US detention centre in Cuba without charge or trial since January 2002 and arrived in France yesterday.
“Other governments, including Ireland, should follow France’s commendable lead. They should offer protection to those men at Guantánamo who will not be charged but have nowhere to go,” she said.
According to Amnesty, some 60 detainees have been cleared for release but cannot be returned to their home countries due to the risk of human rights violations.
“In March, while in the US for St Patrick’s Day, the Taoiseach said Ireland would accept some of these detainees who have been cleared for release,” said Ms Hartigan.
“He has since confirmed this commitment in the Dáil. We welcomed this as an act of moral leadership and have already been working with civil servants to see how best this promise can be delivered.
“We have a responsibility to help clean up the mess,” Ms Hartigan said.