Two Guantánamo Britons to Appear Before Magistrates

Two of the three British residents released from Guantánamo Bay will appear before magistrates today, as protesters are planning to gather outside the court to demand their immediate freedom.

Omar Deghayes, 38, Jamil el-Banna, 45, and Abdennour Samuer, 34, were all released from the controversial camp in Cuba yesterday after five years of being held without charge or trial.

They arrived back in the UK last night when both Deghayes and Samuer were arrested immediately. El-Banna was arrested by Scotland Yard's extradition unit on a European anti-terrorist warrant, issued on behalf of Spain.

Samuer is expected to released later today.

El-Banna and Deghayes will appear at City of Westminster magistrates' court in central London this morning.

A protest demanding their immediate release is expected to take place outside the court. El-Banna's son Anas, 11, and former Guantánamo detainees including Moazzam Begg and Martin Mubanga will be among those at the demonstration.

Clive Stafford Smith, the lawyer for all three men, accused the government of dishonesty in its treatment of the three since they returned.

"I have no problem with them questioning my clients but they [the government] lied."

He added: "Jamil el-Banna was told by an official yesterday that he would be at home with his children for the Festival of Eid. Five children are sitting in that house waiting, one of whom has never seen their father. It is absolutely outrageous."

Stafford Smith said el-Banna and Deghayes were both due in court today, but that Samuer would be released at some point during the day.

El-Banna could now face lengthy court hearings and a possible trial in Spain if the extradition goes ahead, but Stafford Smith has vowed to fight any such request.

Fellow lawyers and campaigners have also condemned the arrests of the detainees on their return to Britain.

The human rights lawyer, Gareth Peirce, who represents some of the former detainees, said: "For five years Britain has denied that the US achieved the extraordinary rendition, torture and unlawful detention of Jamil el-Banna with its assistance and encouragement, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

"Now, on arrival in the country that is his home, Jamil el-Banna - exonerated entirely by the Americans - is told that the UK is now actively assisting another government to snatch him once again without even the chance of seeing his wife and children - this time through the device of a fast track extradition request from Spain. Enough is enough. These men must be immediately released."