The family of a man imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay has welcomed The Argus's campaign to secure him justice.

The brother and sister of Brighton man Omar Deghayes, detained in the US detention camp for almost four years, said his continued captivity was a living nightmare for his friends and relatives.

On Saturday, The Argus launched the Justice For Omar campaign, demanding the 36-year-old law graduate, who grew up in Saltdean, is put on trial or released.

"It shows it is a newspaper that supports important issues and is willing to fight for them."

Abubaker Deghayes suffered another blow on Friday when a brick was thrown through the window of his Sussex home in what police suspect was a racist attack.

His wife and four young children were asleep upstairs when the attack happened shortly before 10.30pm.

Mr Deghayes said: "This makes me more determined to fight this campaign.

"Nothing will put us off justice for my brother.

"Why would somebody want to attack the family of a man being held in Guantanamo Bay prison?

"There are always those who do not understand but it is vital we campaign for justice for my brother and I think most of the British people are behind us."

Mr Deghayes' eldest brother Taher, 38, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, said: "Your paper has been the backbone of Omar's campaign. We are so thankful for your help and assistance."

His was one of scores of messages supporting the campaign by The Argus.

During the weekend, people from all over Sussex sent in letters and emails calling for justice.

The Argus is calling on the British Government to intervene on behalf of Mr Deghayes, whom it has so far refused to help because he is not a British national, despite spending much of his life here.

The Deghayes family are Libyan refugees who fled to the UK from Libya in 1986 following the assassination of Mr Deghayes' father under Colonel Gadaffi's regime.

They were granted asylum and allowed to stay because they faced persecution and possible death.

But though other Deghayes family members did become British citizens, Mr Deghayes was not a British national when he was arrested in Pakistan in 2001.

Though the Government worked to secure the release of nine British nationals it says it cannot help him or four other British residents held in the camp because they are not UK citizens.

Abubaker, 37, said: "This Government took us in and gave us refuge when we fled our country.

"Now it has turned its back on us."

The Argus is joining the unanimous voice of city councillors, lawyers, MPs, religious leaders, human rights organisations and the Deghayes family in calling on the Government to intervene.

Abubaker said: "They have a moral responsibility to help him.

"What is happening in Guantanamo Bay goes against all our national and international laws and principles.

"Omar is a British refugee and the Government has a duty to look after him."

The continued captivity of Mr Deghayes in conditions which breach international law was a "living hell" for the family, he said.

Sister Amani, 31, said: "My mother cannot even speak about Omar without crying. I can't explain how it feels to read what is happening in there to him.

"I don't understand how people can do that to each other."

Anyone with information about the attack on the Deghayes' home should contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.