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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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19th December 2003

URGENT ALERT: DEMAND THE RELEASE OF URSLAAN KHAN

THIS ACTION NOW CLOSED. URSLAAN KHAN RELEASED.
IHRC is deeply concerned at the continued illegal detention of Urslaan Khan, by American military forces in Iraq. Urslaan Khan, a 21-year-old student at the University of Manchester, has been detained in Iraq for over six weeks.

In September 2003, Urslaan Khan left to study Arabic in Alexandria, Egypt as part of his university studies. On the 3rd November, Urslaan Khan was arrested whilst in a taxi in Arbil, Northern Iraq. He was kept in Arbil for about four weeks. The Foreign Office confirmed this approximately two weeks later.

On the 9th of December, an American Army chaplain contacted Urslaan Khan’s parents to inform them that Urslaan Khan had been moved to a \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\”detention centre\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\” at Mosul Airport and ruled out the possibility of them speaking to their son. Urslaan Khan has now been transferred to a “detention centre” in Baghdad.

There is no clear evidence that Urslaan Khan was involved in any terrorist activities but has been left in a legal limbo for the past 6 weeks. He has not been charged but is still being detained. As Urslaan Khan is a British citizen, the British government has an obligation to maximise its efforts in securing his release and ensuring that principles of justice are upheld.

Urslaan Khan has been denied a right to a fair hearing and protection against wrongful imprisonment. Urslaan Khan’s parents have asked the community to help work for his earliest release. You can do this by writing to his MP and to the Foreign Office at the addresses below. Please find a sample letter below.

Contact address for Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South:

Dari Taylor, MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Or email her assistant at: webstera@parliament.uk

Contact address for Mike O’Brien, MP and Minister of State, Foreign Office

Mike O’Brien MP
Minister of State
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AL

Fax: +44 20 7839 2417
Email private.office@fco.gov.uk

Sample Letter for Dari Taylor, MP

Your name
Your address

Your email

Date:

Dari Taylor MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Fax:
Email webstra@parliament.uk

Dear Ms. Taylor:

Re: Detention by US authorities of Urslaan Khan

I am writing to express my deep concern at the detention of Urslaan Khan by the US authorities in Iraq.

Urslaan Khan has been held incommunicado in a “detention centre” in Iraq for over 6 weeks now. He was arrested on the 3rd November and has been in military custody ever since. There is no evidence against him of any terrorist activities and he has not been charged with any offence. Consequently, his detention is illegal under international law.

Urslaan Khan is a British citizen who is in his 3rd year of Arabic studies at the University of Manchester. IAs a British citizen, it is his right that the British government do their utmost to secure his release and ensure the proper administration of justice in line with the norms of international law.

I urge you to make representations on his behalf and secure his release.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding the action you have taken in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Your signature

Sample Letter for Mike O’Brien (Foreign Office)

Your name
Your address

Your email

Date:
Mike O’Brien MP
Minister of State
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AL

Fax: +44 20 7839 2417 ::
Email private.office@fco.gov.uk

Dear Mr. O’Brien,

Re: Detention by US authorities of Urslaan Khan

I am writing to express my deep concern at the detention of Urslaan Khan by the US authorities in Iraq.

Urslaan Khan has been held incommunicado in a “detention centre” in Iraq for over 6 weeks now. He was arrested on the 3rd November and has been in military custody ever since. There is no evidence against him of any terrorist activities and he has not been charged with any offence. Consequently, his detention is illegal under international law.

Urslaan Khan is a British citizen who studies at the University of Manchester. The British government has a duty to ensure that the principles of justice are upheld and that British citizens abroad are treated in a humane and dignified manner. Urslaan Khan has apparently received only one visit from the consular office. As a British citizen, it is his right that the British government do their utmost to secure his release and ensure the proper administration of justice in line with the norms of international law.

I demand that your office act on his behalf and secure his immediate and unconditional release.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding the action you have taken in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Your signature