Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton is to visit Bermuda next week to meet with Premier Ewart Brown and clergy leaders in a show of support for accepting four Uighur prisoners.

Rev. Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, will be arriving in Bermuda on Monday.

"I show support for the humanitarian gesture extended to these four men by the nation of Bermuda," said Rev. Sharpton.

The support for the Premier came after protests against the decision to bring the former Guantánamo Bay detainees to the Island without first consulting the UK or the majority of his own cabinet. The British Government and the United Bermuda Party have both spoken out against Premier Brown's actions, with a vote of no confidence held yesterday in the House of Assembly.

"As one that has visited Bermuda as recently as the past holidays, I am proud that I frequent and support a nation that supports humanitarian needs and the world should stand behind Premier Brown at this time," said Rev. Sharpton.

The Uighurs, Muslims from Western China, were detained in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba for seven years, but were declared innocent and cleared for release six years ago. They could not be returned home to China out of risk of torture or death.

"Humanitarianism should rise above political party concerns and I appeal to the British government to recognise the good that this shows," said Rev. Sharpton.