Manchester City Councillors have unanimously supported a call for the captives held at Belmarsh Prison under the anti-terrorism legislation to be either charged with criminal activity or released.

Speaking for the Liberal Democrats on the Council, Cllr Iain Donaldson condemned the atrocities that had led to the invasion first of Afghanistan, and later of Iraq, but he questioned strongly the circumstances in which people were being detained both at Guantánamo and at Belmarsh.

“Despite a major international outcry and expert condemnation of US government policy, hundreds of people of around 35 different nationalities including Britons remain held in a legal black hole at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, many without access to any court, legal counsel or family visits. Denied their rights under international law and held in conditions which may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the detainees face severe psychological distress. There have been numerous suicide attempts.” Cllr Donaldson told the City Council.

He went on to distinguish between what has happened at Guantánamo and at Belmarsh by stating “Let me make absolutely clear that this Council does not consider the treatment of the Belmarsh captives as being ‘the same’ as the degrading, humiliating and inhuman mistreatment of the Guantánamo captives. But the question of justice is the same.”

“In Belmarsh we hold captives who have not been charged with any wrongdoing against which to be tried. Last week the Law Lords determined that the detention of nine people in Belmarsh under anti-terrorism legislation was wrong.”

“Can it be right that the very freedom and justice that we seek is set aside in the battle against terrorism?” Cllr Donaldson added “When the laws of democratic nations are set aside in the defence of the way of life they were established to protect then the very essence of our nationhood and our democracy is brought into question.”

“That is why we must always be prepared to say that nobody is above, or beyond or outwith the law, and today we call for the captives both in Gauntanamo and in Belmarsh to be either charged with criminal activity, or freed. Further, if they are charged then we call for a fair and free trial.”

Manchester City Council is a Labour administration with a Liberal Democrat opposition, one green party member and no Conservative Councillors. The notice of motion was passed unanimously.