Welcome to paradise: The four Chinese Muslims spent years in harsh captivity - and years more in political limbo - before Bermuda offered them a home. The men understandably say they are delighted to be here.
Welcome to paradise: The four Chinese Muslims spent years in harsh captivity - and years more in political limbo - before Bermuda offered them a home. The men understandably say they are delighted to be here.
Bermudians were yesterday urged to treat four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners with respect, and told that they pose the island no threat.

The four men, who China yesterday denounced as "terrorists" have been offered asylum here amid

reports that 100 other countries turned them down.

With nowhere else for them to go - and their lives almost certainly forfeit if they were to return to

China - Premier Ewart Brown said the island had a moral obligation to give them a home. A U.S. lawyer for the refugees said Bermuda had stepped up to the plate and "put the bigger countries to shame."

But as news of the men's arrival spread around the island, what most Bermudians wanted to know is: are these former Guantanamo inmates a threat?

America's Justice Department pointed out that it had run exhaustive checks on the four men and is convinced they will not engage in criminal activity here.

Lt. Col. David Burch, minister in charge of public safety, said: "We are more than satisfied these men present no threat."

However, the move has certainly put Bermuda in the political firing line. The Chinese government

demanded the men be returned to China at once, while Government House and the British Government are furious they were kept in the dark until the refugees had already arrived.