SAMAR
and Jawad are both being held as 'Category A' prisoners. This Category A status
is based on an assessment of the risk of their escape, the risk of their re-offending,
the threat they pose to the public and their possible membership of a large
organisation able to help them escape, whether or not this possibility is real.
Samar and Jawad are able to apply once a year to have their prison status re-categorised.
But so far both of their applications have been turned down, in August 1997
and August 1998. Letters sent to the Category A Review Committee can and do
help sway its decision.
The 'Category A'regime is extremely harsh and restrictive. It involves the prisoner
being 'shadowed' at almost all times by a prison officer; they have to leave
their lights on all night so as to remain in vision; they are routinely subjected
to strip searches; their cells are regularly searched and they are moved around
every few weeks; their mail and telephone calls are censored; all visitors have
to receive security clearance which can take months and sometimes even years;
and inevitably the prisoner becomes isolated.
There is absolutely no reason that Samar and Jawad should be subjected to this
harsh regime. The trial judge acknowledged that Samar and Jawad were not members
of a terrorist organisation. They have both have always complied with all bail
conditions. After Samar was first arrested, the judge granting her bail indicated
that she posed no serious escape risk. She was on bail for the nine months leading
up to her conviction and there was no suggestion that she might flee the country.
Jawad was released on bail throughout the trial and was thought to pose so little
risk that he was free to travel and meet with other persons and was not subject
to any forms of curfew. They both attended trial every day and showed no desire
to escape despite ample opportunity. The judge even trusted them enough to let
them remain free on bail while the jury considered their verdict.
Despite all of this, Samar and Jawad continue to be detained as 'Category A'
prisoners. Please add yours to the hundreds of letters sent to the Home Office
Category A Review Committee urging that their prison status be de- categorised.
Category A Review
Committee
(or Director General of the Prison Service)
Prison Service Headquarters
Cleland House
Page Street, London SW1 9AT
