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Vanessa Redgrave helps Guantanamo suspects By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor Last Updated: 1:11am GMT 21/12/2007 Two suspected al-Qa'eda operatives released from Guantanamo Bay have walked free from court although they are still wanted in Spain on terrorism-related offences. One of the men, who is accused of distributing extremist propaganda produced by Osama bin Laden, had half of his £50,000 bail surety met by the actress Vanessa Redgrave. Jamil el-Banna, 45, who was said during a brief court hearing to have helped run a cell called the Islamic Alliance, recruiting people to fight jihad in Afghanistan and Indonesia, returned to his London home tonight. The other man, Omar Deghayes, 38, a Libyan national freed from Guantanamo and allowed into the UK because he once lived here, is said to have had links to the same al-Qa'eda cell. He was also released on bail. Spain issued European arrest warrants for both men within hours of their arrival in Britain last night from the Cuban detention centre. Miss Redgrave said: "It is a profound honour and I am glad to be alive to be able to do this.'' She added: "Guantanamo Bay is a concentration camp. It is a disgrace that these men have been kept there all these years." But the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard of their alleged links to al-Qa'eda, which raised fresh questions over why the British government interceded on their behalf to allow their return here from Guantanamo. Although the men have been resident in the UK and have family here, they are not British citizens. Previously, the Government has said it owed them no legal obligations. Melanie Cumberland, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Mr el Banna was a Pakistani who had first come to Britain in 1994 on a false Kuwaiti passport. Jamil el-Banna, Omar Deghayes, Abdennour Sameur and Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/12/08/wguan108.jpg> >From left: Jamil el-Banna, Omar Deghayes, Abdennour Sameur. Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer, who was also released from Guantanamo, was returned to his native Saudi Arabia He requested asylum and was eventually granted indefinite leave to remain. Miss Cumberland said that after settling in Britain he went to Spain between June 1996 and July 2001, where he helped run an al-Qa'eda cell. "The cell sent funds to Afghanistan to finance the aims of the organisation, sometimes using human carriers or other means," she said. If he were extradited, she added, he could receive a jail term of up to 15 years. advertisementMr el-Banna was captured shortly after 9/11 by American agents in Gambia, where he said he was setting up a peanut oil factory. They said he was a fund-raiser for Osama bin Laden. Edward Fitzgerald, defending, said there was "not a shred of evidence" against Mr el-Banna. He said: "It simply cannot be said that this is someone who is a danger or was associated with a dangerous organisation.'' He claimed Spain's allegation was "unsubstantiated, unevidenced and unsupported". Proceedings were relayed to him through a translator and he was bailed to return to court on Jan 8. He is subject to a curfew, must live at his home in Dollis Hill, London and has been electronically tagged. As he left court, Mr el-Banna, who has been flanked by two officers during his appearance, said: "Thank you very much everybody, my solicitor, the British people, the British Government for your help. "I'm tired. I want to go home and see my children." Campaigners for Mr el-Banna's release accused the British authorities of lying about what would happen when he returned to the UK. Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP, said: "He was hoping to meet his wife under very different circumstances. "The family have just been on a rollercoaster ride. He's aged a great deal but his eyes are still bright and the lawyers say his spirit is still strong." The likelihood is that both men will end up being tried in Spain. Extradition under a fast-track European warrant is meant to be a formality. Abdennour Samuer, 34, a third British resident also released from Guantanamo Bay on Wednesday night, was released without charge after being questioned by police. He is an Algerian army deserter who came to Britain in 1999 and was granted refugee status. He was captured by American troops in Afghanistan, where he said he had gone because he found it hard to live as a good Muslim in Britain. Campaigners for the men, held in Guantanamo for almost five years, say they are innocent individuals kidnapped and tortured by the Americans. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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