MORE than 200 people kicked off a fast for justice for Shaker Aamer yesterday, with leading activists and politicians rallying in Westminster to demand his release from the US gulag at Guantanamo Bay.

The dedicated cohort are taking turns to give up food for 24 hours until Mr Aamer, the latest British resident held at the prison, is released to his family.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Green MP Caroline Lucas and Labour MP Andy Slaughter — who have all pledged to join the fast — called for his freedom at the rally.

The US government has cleared him for release at least three times yet only recently started the wheels turning on letting him out.

Mr McDonnell said: “We do not want to experience another setback in this terrible miscarriage of justice. We are on the edge of a serious breakthrough.

“We are nearly there and we are hoping that Shaker will soon come home to his family.”

Family friend Suliman Gani, previously an imam at the Tooting Islamic Centre in south London who stepped in to help the family after supportive friend Salim Akbar died in 2010, said: “It is a blessing to be a comfort to the family.

“The reason why not many Muslims were willing to get involved is because they have been paranoid about the (Home Office counter-terrorism and anti-extremism) Prevent programme.

“Most other mosques had distanced themselves from the campaign.”

Mr Aamer is refusing to eat in protest against the abuse and torture inflicted on him by guards during his imprisonment in the military prison in Cuba for nearly 14 years.

Mr Gani said: “Shaker witnessed a lot of torture and saw a lot of security services complicit in it. That’s the main reason there is a delay in his release — we can’t think of any other reason.

“The beginning of our campaign was very tough as the name ‘Guantanamo’ makes people feel like the detainees are extremely dangerous.

“I was sceptical over the idea of campaigning for one of the most-wanted men.

“But, as soon as I knew Shaker was an innocent man and was cleared for release numerous times by the US government, I was confident in continuing.”

Saudi-born Mr Aamer was in Afghanistan — with his pregnant wife and three kids — to build a school, Mr Gani said. He was captured and sold to US forces for $5,000 in 2001 before being taken to Gitmo.

Mr Aamer’s father-in-law Saeed Siddiqui, who was also fasting yesterday, told the Star that the family are prepared for the release to take longer than expected.

The US government said, in “confirming” his release on September 25, that it had to give Congress 30 days’ notice.
Mr Siddiqui added: “All of us fasting are united morally and spiritually for Shaker.”