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| Guantánamo detainee relatives address US senators | Guantánamo detainee relatives address US senators |
| (2 months later) | |
| Two months after President Barack Obama announced a renewed effort to close Guantánamo Bay, the first US congressional hearing on the issue since the first year of his administration is to be held Wednesday in Washington, DC. The Senate judiciary committee will examine proposals to enable the detention center's closure. The following are excerpts from letters submitted to US senators at this hearing from family members of detainees. | Two months after President Barack Obama announced a renewed effort to close Guantánamo Bay, the first US congressional hearing on the issue since the first year of his administration is to be held Wednesday in Washington, DC. The Senate judiciary committee will examine proposals to enable the detention center's closure. The following are excerpts from letters submitted to US senators at this hearing from family members of detainees. |
| Ahmed Hadjarab from France: uncle of Nabil Hadjarab | Ahmed Hadjarab from France: uncle of Nabil Hadjarab |
| "Since the hunger strike begun, Nabil tells me that he has lost around 44lbs. The Guantánamo staff force-feed him twice a day, in a way he finds brutal and degrading. On our occasional Skype calls, Nabil describes to me what he has to go through every day. Soldiers make him come out of his cell, and strap him to a chair. A member of the medical staff then inserts a tube in his nose, all the way down to his stomach while his head is held back. Nabil has been going through this barbaric procedure twice a day, every single day for over four months … | "Since the hunger strike begun, Nabil tells me that he has lost around 44lbs. The Guantánamo staff force-feed him twice a day, in a way he finds brutal and degrading. On our occasional Skype calls, Nabil describes to me what he has to go through every day. Soldiers make him come out of his cell, and strap him to a chair. A member of the medical staff then inserts a tube in his nose, all the way down to his stomach while his head is held back. Nabil has been going through this barbaric procedure twice a day, every single day for over four months … |
| "When in 2002, I was told that Nabil was detained by the Americans, I thought that at least he would have a right to a fair trial. I thought his rights would be respected and that justice would prevail. What I feel today is mostly incomprehension. How can this nation, one that prides itself of defending human rights, close its eyes to these violations of its founding principles?" | "When in 2002, I was told that Nabil was detained by the Americans, I thought that at least he would have a right to a fair trial. I thought his rights would be respected and that justice would prevail. What I feel today is mostly incomprehension. How can this nation, one that prides itself of defending human rights, close its eyes to these violations of its founding principles?" |
| Michael Aamer, 13, and Johina Aamer, 15, from the UK: children of Shaker Aamer | Michael Aamer, 13, and Johina Aamer, 15, from the UK: children of Shaker Aamer |
| Michael: "It makes me so sad to know that even after trying to get him out, he is still in prison. And even though he has been cleared for release, he has been tortured. I see my dad on Skype when we speak to him. Sometimes a guard stands behind him. We have to be very careful about what we talk about – we can only talk about ourselves or the guards will stop the call." | Michael: "It makes me so sad to know that even after trying to get him out, he is still in prison. And even though he has been cleared for release, he has been tortured. I see my dad on Skype when we speak to him. Sometimes a guard stands behind him. We have to be very careful about what we talk about – we can only talk about ourselves or the guards will stop the call." |
| Johina: "We all live our lives, passing through every day with food, clothes and most importantly freedom. Can you imagine being locked up for 10 years? Imagine losing 10 years of your life and possibly many more years to come if everyone sits there and does nothing about it. Try imagining being treated like a circus animal in a cage and being taken away from your home and everything you love. It is painful isn't it? Well, my dad has already been through this and is going through this now." | Johina: "We all live our lives, passing through every day with food, clothes and most importantly freedom. Can you imagine being locked up for 10 years? Imagine losing 10 years of your life and possibly many more years to come if everyone sits there and does nothing about it. Try imagining being treated like a circus animal in a cage and being taken away from your home and everything you love. It is painful isn't it? Well, my dad has already been through this and is going through this now." |
| Abd Alhaq Barka, from Germany: uncle of Younous Chekkouri | Abd Alhaq Barka, from Germany: uncle of Younous Chekkouri |
| "My nephew Younous is cleared for release, yet he remains in Guantánamo. His young adulthood has been wasted during the 11 years of his detention. How many more years is he going to be in Guantánamo? I know this limbo is causing him a lot of pain, and I am suffering too because I know he has been very depressed lately. I worry about his health, and I spend sleepless nights thinking that he may do something to put an end to his anguish … | "My nephew Younous is cleared for release, yet he remains in Guantánamo. His young adulthood has been wasted during the 11 years of his detention. How many more years is he going to be in Guantánamo? I know this limbo is causing him a lot of pain, and I am suffering too because I know he has been very depressed lately. I worry about his health, and I spend sleepless nights thinking that he may do something to put an end to his anguish … |
| "Like us, Younous deserves the chance to rediscover what it means to live a life of freedom, peace and security. We deserve the chance to see him again. Younous has a kind heart, and he is loved by many people in this world. His wife, his brother and myself, we all also suffer the consequences of his indefinite detention." | "Like us, Younous deserves the chance to rediscover what it means to live a life of freedom, peace and security. We deserve the chance to see him again. Younous has a kind heart, and he is loved by many people in this world. His wife, his brother and myself, we all also suffer the consequences of his indefinite detention." |
| Mohammed Belbacha from Algeria: brother of Ahmed Belbacha | Mohammed Belbacha from Algeria: brother of Ahmed Belbacha |
| "My family is horrified at how Ahmed and others in Guantánamo have been treated. Algerian youth has long looked up to America for its democracy and respect for human rights. We always associated a lot of good with it. But now, America has lost its standing not just with our family, but with Algerian youth as a whole. Arbitrary arrest, detention without trial, renditions and torturous interrogation methods have cast a dark stain upon America's reputation. | "My family is horrified at how Ahmed and others in Guantánamo have been treated. Algerian youth has long looked up to America for its democracy and respect for human rights. We always associated a lot of good with it. But now, America has lost its standing not just with our family, but with Algerian youth as a whole. Arbitrary arrest, detention without trial, renditions and torturous interrogation methods have cast a dark stain upon America's reputation. |
| "My family still maintains hope that Ahmed will be released soon. We know he is exhausted after all he has suffered, but we also know that he retains a strong will to rebuild his life. We will do all we can to help Ahmed rebuild his life." | "My family still maintains hope that Ahmed will be released soon. We know he is exhausted after all he has suffered, but we also know that he retains a strong will to rebuild his life. We will do all we can to help Ahmed rebuild his life." |
| Kamal Massaud from Lebanon: uncle of Abu Wa'el Dihab | Kamal Massaud from Lebanon: uncle of Abu Wa'el Dihab |
| "Abu Wa'el is 41 years old. However, his health is like that of an old man. A decade of imprisonment, torture and beatings has taken a dramatic toll on him. My nephew needs a wheelchair, and he has been on hunger strike for almost six months, which is making him even weaker. I worry about him every day and every night … | "Abu Wa'el is 41 years old. However, his health is like that of an old man. A decade of imprisonment, torture and beatings has taken a dramatic toll on him. My nephew needs a wheelchair, and he has been on hunger strike for almost six months, which is making him even weaker. I worry about him every day and every night … |
| "The way Abu Wa'el was seized, where he is, how he has been treated: all this hangs over the family every day. It feels to us that there is no real judicial process that reaches him in Guantánamo. We have never received any explanation from the US authorities. We have never understood, if I am honest, how he can be held without charge or trial for all these years." | "The way Abu Wa'el was seized, where he is, how he has been treated: all this hangs over the family every day. It feels to us that there is no real judicial process that reaches him in Guantánamo. We have never received any explanation from the US authorities. We have never understood, if I am honest, how he can be held without charge or trial for all these years." |
| Emad al-Hakimi from Tunisia: brother of Adel al-Hakimi | Emad al-Hakimi from Tunisia: brother of Adel al-Hakimi |
| "My brother, Adel al-Hakimi, has been in Guantánamo Bay since 2002. Eleven years is too long to be away from your loved ones … The worst part is that we don't know how much longer he will be in Guantánamo or if he will ever be released. We have been waiting for over a decade for some sort of resolution. We never knew that this type of injustice could happen in America. Adel has a simple dream: to return to Tunisia, to start a business and to be a good father. How much longer will we have to wait before we can move on with our lives?" | "My brother, Adel al-Hakimi, has been in Guantánamo Bay since 2002. Eleven years is too long to be away from your loved ones … The worst part is that we don't know how much longer he will be in Guantánamo or if he will ever be released. We have been waiting for over a decade for some sort of resolution. We never knew that this type of injustice could happen in America. Adel has a simple dream: to return to Tunisia, to start a business and to be a good father. How much longer will we have to wait before we can move on with our lives?" |
| Maherzia Sliti from Tunisia: mother of Hisham Sliti | Maherzia Sliti from Tunisia: mother of Hisham Sliti |
| "One of the worst things is the uncertainty, and the false hope that things are about to change. Sometimes I hear rumors that men have been released from Guantánamo and that Hisham is one of them. I miss and love my son so much that although my mind knows the rumors are probably false, my heart believes them every time. And every time I am devastated when I realize he is not coming home … | "One of the worst things is the uncertainty, and the false hope that things are about to change. Sometimes I hear rumors that men have been released from Guantánamo and that Hisham is one of them. I miss and love my son so much that although my mind knows the rumors are probably false, my heart believes them every time. And every time I am devastated when I realize he is not coming home … |
| "I do not understand why my son is still in Guantánamo after all these years, when we know he has been cleared. We never thought the United States was the kind of place where people could be held like this. I ask you to help bring my son home so that I may have my family reunited before it is too late." | "I do not understand why my son is still in Guantánamo after all these years, when we know he has been cleared. We never thought the United States was the kind of place where people could be held like this. I ask you to help bring my son home so that I may have my family reunited before it is too late." |
| Mohamed Sami al-Hajj, 13, from Qatar: son of Sami al-Hajj (released 2008) | Mohamed Sami al-Hajj, 13, from Qatar: son of Sami al-Hajj (released 2008) |
| "Sometimes I want to forget about Guantánamo, but I can't. I think about it when I see my dad limp from his shattered knee and when he is weak and tired. Also, it's hard not to feel sad for all the families that still have fathers in Guantánamo. For instance, I remember when I was eight, and I found out that my father was on a hunger strike, which was so scary. My mom tried to spare me the details, but later I found out that my dad spent a month without any food. Then he was tied to a chair with metal shackles and brutally force-fed. I remember so clearly how scary that time was for us, and it breaks my heart to hear in the news that this is happening again." | "Sometimes I want to forget about Guantánamo, but I can't. I think about it when I see my dad limp from his shattered knee and when he is weak and tired. Also, it's hard not to feel sad for all the families that still have fathers in Guantánamo. For instance, I remember when I was eight, and I found out that my father was on a hunger strike, which was so scary. My mom tried to spare me the details, but later I found out that my dad spent a month without any food. Then he was tied to a chair with metal shackles and brutally force-fed. I remember so clearly how scary that time was for us, and it breaks my heart to hear in the news that this is happening again." |
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