There is no evidence that control orders have saved lives but there is plenty of evidence that they have ruined lives.

Moazzam Begg explains what the Guantanamo settlements have meant to the former prisoners and what lies ahead

Edmund Clark took photographs of Guantánamo – of the naval base where the American community lives and the cells in which the prisoners were confined. He also took pictures of the homes where former inmates are struggling to rebuild their lives. The collection makes compelling viewing for former detainee Moazzam Begg.

Over the past year the US administration has released around 30 Guantanamo prisoners to several European nations. They include France, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Georgia and even Cape Verde. Three men were also sent to Slovakia at the beginning of this year as part it’s gesture of solidarity with President Barack Obama's pledge to empty and close the detention centre.

Cageprisoners' first major fundraising event in Manchester was not only a pleasure to attend, but learning first-hand about the plight of Munir Farooqi, a real eye-opener 

Qadr (fate) is a difficult concept to understand and an even harder one to explain but, travelling to Pakistan during the days of ‘Eid ul-fitr, on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 was indeed fated.

Since its inception Islam has suffered repeated attempts by some civilisations and individuals to uproot it as an existential threat. At times it is presented as perilous to a particular way of life and at others an obstacle to the pursuit of influence and material gain. The desire by opponents of Islam to stem its influence perhaps cannot be stated more strongly that in the words of the Quran: 

…they will continue to fight you until they turn you away from your religion, if they are capable of doing so … (2:217)

The hardest part of any personal calamity is that which directly affects your loved ones. That was the case for me during three years away from my family. Not knowing what had happened to them, how they were surviving or who might be looking after them was perhaps the most consistent and internally destructive source of worry during that period. Still, I could reasonably assume who might come to their assistance. 

May Allah have mercy on you O Faraj and, know that I love you for the sake of Allah even though you have departed from this life