An ex-Guantanamo Bay inmate from New Malden was “lost for words” after seeing his harrowing experience dramatised in a play to be performed in Kingston.

Hard-hitting play “Rendition Monologues” is being premiered at All Saints’ Church, Kingston, on Saturday, October 9, and is drafted from first-hand experiences of victims of renditions and detention at Guantanamo Bay.

Iraqi refugee and New Malden resident Bisher al-Rawi, was held at the Cuban detention camp for nearly five years after he was taken into custody by the CIA while travelling on business to the Gambia in November 2002.

After being transported by rendition to various locations, he spent nearly five years at Guantanamo Bay before being released with no charges against him in 2007.

Mr al-Rawi, 42, said: “Really, I was almost lost for words. The show was really very moving, scarily so. The performance really brought it home and I was almost living through their experiences and mine as well.”

Members of Amnesty Kingston, who organised the production, campaigned for Bisher’s release alongside Edward Davey, Kingston and Surbiton’s MP.

After Mr al-Rawi’s release, Mr Davey said: “Bisher is not and has never been a threat to national or international security.

“His case should be a lesson to everyone that when you ignore the due process of law, injustice follows.

“I hope he and his family can now be left to rebuild their lives after this harrowing ordeal.”

Amnesty Kingston member, Ursula Peaple, says: “We knew a lot was being done at a political and diplomatic level to seek his release, but we also knew it would take time.

“By the end of our campaign Bisher’s photograph and story was recognised and understood by many Kingston residents.”

Mr al-Rawi fled from Saddam Hussein’s regime with his family when he was 16 and settled in New Malden, deciding not to take British citizenship in the hope the family could one day reclaim assets in Iraq.

The performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 (£3 for concessions) from Kingston Council’s website kingston.gov.

uk or by emailing amnesty kingston@yahoo.co.uk.