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Demonstrations Around the World: 23rd Anniversary of Guantanamo

Trump may be in but we’re not going anywhere

Using our last chance to influence the Biden administration before the inauguration of Donald Trump, the UK Guantanamo network held a protest to mark the 23rd anniversary of Guantanamo Bay.

We met near Parliament and marched to Trafalgar Square where there were speeches and poems read. Then a small group handed a letter into the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. In the process we handed out hundreds of leaflets and spoke to dozens of people on the street.

Free the Guantánamo 16! Two Letters to President Biden; Signatories Include Former Prisoners, Ex-U.S. Government Officials, U.K. Parliamentarians

by Andy Worthington

100 Former Guantánamo Prisoners, Ex-US Government Officials, Lawyers, Academics, Psychologists, Public Figures and Rights Organizations Send Letter to President Biden Urging Him to Free the 16 Men Still Held at Guantánamo Who Have Long Been Approved for Release; Second Letter is Sent by 40 British MPs and Peers, Academics and CEOs of UK Rights Organizations

Today, December 6, 2024, 100 individuals and organizations — including 36 former Guantánamo prisoners, 36 ex-US government officials, lawyers, academics, psychologists and public figures, and 28 rights organizations — have written to President Biden, with a second letter sent simultaneously by 40 British MPs and peers, academics and the CEOs of UK rights organizations, to urge him to take urgent action to free 16 men still held in the prison at Guantánamo Bay (out of 30 in total) who have long been approved for release.

These decisions, which were unanimously agreed through robust, high-level US government review processes, took place many years ago — between two and four years ago, and in three outlying cases nearly 15 years ago.

The former prisoners signing the US and international letter include the authors Mansoor Adayfi and Mohamedou Ould Slahi, and the supporters include Larry Wilkerson, the former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, and the musician and activist Roger Waters.

The UK letter includes 20 Parliamentarians, the Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, and the film director Kevin Macdonald (‘The Mauritanian’).

As the signatories explain in the letters:

“In total, these 16 men have been held for between 17 and 22 years without charge or trial. All were subjected to long years of fundamentally arbitrary imprisonment before the decisions were taken to release them, and the failure to free them only adds salt to an already bitter wound that thoroughly undermines the US’s supposed commitment to fundamental norms regarding the deprivation of liberty. It is time for this lingering injustice to be swiftly brought to an end.”

The signatories to the US and international letter are:

Antonio Aiello, writer and editor
Stephen Benson Ph.D., retired psychologist
Trudy Bond, Coalition for an Ethical Psychology
Marshall Carter-Tripp, retired Foreign Service officer and political science professor
Mary Pelton Cooper, PsyD, psychologist, Professor of Psychology (Retired)
Gale Coskan-Johnson, Brock University
Roy Eidelson, PhD, Coalition for an Ethical Psychology
Mark Fallon, Deputy Commander, Department of Defense Criminal Investigation Task Force (DOD-CITF) at Guantanamo, 2002-04
Kevin Gosztola, journalist
Karen J. Greenberg, Director, Center on National Security at Fordham Law
Nancy Hollander, international criminal defense attorney
Jeffrey S. Kaye, PhD, psychologist (ret.) and author of “Cover-up at Guantanamo”
Deborah Kory, PsyD.
Linda Lewis, Associate Member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity
Dr. Alexandra M. Lossada, Assistant Professor of Ethnic American Literatures, Berry College
M. Brinton Lykes, PhD, Professor Emerita, Boston College
Ray McGovern, former CIA Presidential Briefer
Alexandra Moore, Binghamton University
Elizabeth Murray, former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East, National Intelligence Council (ret.)
Bradley D. Olson, PhD, National Louis University
Sara Olson, Committee member, Women Against Military Madness and Tackling Torture at the Top
Todd E. Pierce, MAJ, Judge Advocate, US Army (Ret.)
Steven Reisner, Psychoanalyst and founding member, Coalition for an Ethical Psychology
Coleen Rowley, retired FBI agent and former Minneapolis Division Legal Counsel
E. Martin Schotz, MD
Stephen Soldz, President-elect, Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology (APA Division 39)
Richard Sroczynski, convenor, Close Guantanamo Coalition
Elizabeth Swanson, PhD, Professor of Literature and Human Rights, Babson College, Wellesley, MA
Don E. Walicek, Professor, University of Puerto Rico
Belinda Walzer, Associate Professor of English, Appalachian State University
Roger Waters, musician/activist
Deborah M. Weissman, Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law
Esther Whitfield, Brown University
Lawrence B. Wilkerson, COL, USA (Ret), former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell
Thomas Wilner, Counsel for Khalid Qassim
Sarah G. Wilton, CDR (ret.) USNR; Defense Intelligence Agency (retired), member, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

Former Guantánamo prisoners

Mahmood Abdulaziz
Abdualmalik Abud
Mohammed Al-Adahi
Mansoor Adayfi
Ahmed Adnan
Mohsen Alaskari
Hammad Alli
Saad Almalky
Djamel Ameziane
Mohammed Ansi
Khalid Al-Asmar
Mohammed Al-Badawi
Sufyian Barhoumi
Ahmed Belbacha
Belkacem Bensayah
Ghalib Al-Bihani
Lakhdar Boumediene
Younous Chekkouri
Omar Deghayes
Jamil Elbanna
Ahmed Errachidi
Din Muhammad Farhad
Abdulrahman Al-Ghaith
Fahad Ghazi
Sadeq Mohammed
Waleed Mohammed
Samir Naji
Abdellatif Nasser
Bashir Nassir
Mohammed Al-Odainy
Ahmed Rabbani
Saeed Ahmed Al-Sarem
Mohamedou Ould Slahi
Hisham Sliti
Muktar Al-Wrafi
Moussa Zemmouri

Ban Killer Drones
Brooklyn for Peace
CAGE International
Close Guantánamo
CODEPINK
Defending Rights & Dissent
Dorothy Day Catholic Worker
5C Cultural Center
Granny Peace Brigade
Guantánamo Survivors Fund
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP)
Muslim Counterpublics Lab
Muslim Solidarity Committee, Albany, NY
New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN)
North Carolina Stop Torture Now
NYC Metro Raging Grannies
Pax Christi New York State
Peacemakers of Schoharie County
Project SALAM (Support And Legal Advocacy for Muslims), Albany, NY
September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Tea Project
United Muslim Alliance of Albany
Uptown Progressive Action
Veterans for Peace Chapter 27
Veterans for Peace – NYC Chapter 34
Witness Against Torture
World BEYOND War
World Can’t Wait

The signatories to the UK letter are:

Moazzam Begg, Senior Director, CAGE International, former Guantánamo prisoner
Apsana Begum MP, UK Member of Parliament (Labour)
Baroness Natalie Bennett, Member of UK House of Lords (Green)
Siân Berry MP, UK Member of Parliament (Green)
Sara Birch, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Brighton, Secretariat, APPG for Closing the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility
Sir Peter Bottomley, Former Father of the House of Commons (Conservative)
Rt. Hon. Tom Brake, former Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Liberal Democrats)
Ellie Chowns MP, UK Member of Parliament (Green)
Hedley Christ, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Brighton
Martyn Day, co-founder and Senior Partner, Leigh Day & Co., human rights lawyers
Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive, Amnesty International UK
Dr. Deepa Govindarajan Driver, academic and trade unionist
Lord Dubs, Member of UK House of Lords (Labour)
Prof. Susan Edwards, Professor of Law, University of Northumberland, barrister
Prof. Conor Gearty, Professor of Human Rights Law. London School of Economics
Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, Libertas Chambers, London
Prof. Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, barrister, 25 Bedford Row, London
Jodie Gosling MP, UK Member of Parliament (Labour)
Baroness Sally Hamwee, Member of UK House of Lords (Liberal Democrats)
Lord Hendy KC, Member of UK House of Lords (Labour), barrister
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, Member of UK House of Lords (Green)
Gillian Keenan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Brighton
Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, Member of UK House of Lords (Labour), barrister
Chris Law MP, UK Member of Parliament (SNP) Chair, APPG for Closing the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility
Kevin Macdonald, Oscar-winning film director and producer, director of ‘The Mauritanian’
Mike Martin MP, UK Member of Parliament (Liberal Democrats)
Rachael Maskell MP, UK Member of Parliament (Labour)
Brian Mathew MP, UK Member of Parliament (Liberal Democrats)
Dr. Kasey McCall-Smith, Senior Lecturer in Public International Law. University of Edinburgh
John McDonnell MP, UK Member of Parliament (Labour)
Baroness Mobarik CBE, Member of UK House of Lords (Conservative)
Prof. Rachel Murray, Human Rights Implementation Centre, University of Bristol Law School
Prof. Ilan Pappé, Professor, College of Social Sciences and International Studies, University of Exeter
Lord Russell of Liverpool, Member of UK House of Lords
Vikki Slade MP, UK Member of Parliament (Liberal Democrats)
Clive Stafford Smith, human rights lawyer
Will Stone MP, UK Member of Parliament (Labour)
Natasha Tsangarides, Associate Director of Advocacy, Freedom from Torture
Andy Worthington, journalist, co-founder, Close Guantánamo
Anna Yearley OBE, Joint Executive Director, Reprieve

For further information, please contact:

Richard Sroczynski, convenor of the Close Guantánamo Coalition in the US on 732-763-6513
Sara Birch, co-convenor of the UK Guantánamo Network in the UK on +44 7710 789616
or Hugh Sandeman, co-convenor of the UK Guantánamo Network in the UK on +44 7785 502759

Mansoor Adayfi addresses the Amplify Human Rights Festival

The UK Guantanamo Network appeared at the Amplify Human Rights Festival at Woolwich Works on 7 Dec 2024.

Guantanamo ex-detainee Mansoor Adyfi spoke, alongside Journalist Andy Worthington, the UKGN’s Co-Convener Sara Birch and Lise Rossi and Mark Clixby of Amnesty International.

“The Amplify event was a huge success” said Sara Birch afterwards, “Members of the audience fed back to me how impressed they were with both Mansoor and Andy’s presentations and passion.”

The event, run by Amnesty International UK, included speakers on a wide range of issues you can read in their full programme here.

Don’t Forget Us Here

An Exhibit of Art from Guantanamo in London

Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, London, E1 6LA

The exhibition opened on 5 December with talks by former detainee Mansoor Adayfi and journalists Andy Worthington.

Exhibition Dates: 5 December 2024 – 5 January 2025
Location: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, London, E1 6LA
RSVP: Dominique.ONeil@outlook.com and Lise.Rossi@amnesty.org.uk

The UK Guantánamo Network, in collaboration with Amnesty International UK, proudly presents “Don’t Forget Us Here”, an exhibition of art created by former* Guantánamo Bay detainees, shedding light on the injustice of indefinite detention without trial or charge.

This poignant exhibition aims to illustrate that the prisoners have stories, emotions, dignity and humanity. The pieces offer a rare and personal insight into the lives of those who suffered and are a call to remember their experiences and the ongoing fight for justice. This exhibition is not only a space for art but also a platform for raising awareness about the human rights violations that have occurred in Guantánamo Bay and the continued struggles for justice and accountability.

This event is a not-for-profit initiative, organized entirely through the support of charitable donations and volunteer efforts. No one involved in the event, including the artists, is receiving payment. All contributions are dedicated to the success of the event and the cause it supports.

To join the UK Guantanamo Network, email Dominique.ONeil@outlook.com or Lise.Rossi@amnesty.org.uk. To join the Amnesty International Kent Network, or for more information, email Dominique.ONeil@outlook.com.

October’s vigil in front of Parliament and around the world

There were threats of thunderstorms but we had a good turnout in front of Parliament in October. As every month, we were joined by groups protesting outside the White House in Washington, D.C., in London, New York City, San Francisco, Brussels, Cobleskill, NY, Detroit, Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon.

In Strasbourg, at the Council of Europe, a Belgian campaigner successfully persuaded delegates at a meeting to have a photo taken in solidarity with those holding vigils worldwide.

For more on the worldwide vigil visit the website of Andy Worthington, who has gathered photos of all the actions.

Failures of the International Justice System to Close Guantanamo

Eylul Mitchell

Over 20 years on, the failure of the US Government to close Guantanamo Bay despite decades of international efforts provides a striking example of a western country undermining the rule of law. Since its creation following the horrific attacks of 9’11 in 2001, 779 men and children have been detained in the US Naval base in Guantanamo, all of which are foreign Muslim men. This has led to many referring to it as a discriminatory regime. The unjust treatment of the detainees in Guantanamo has long been known yet the prisons’ continued existence remains a pressing symbol of the abuse of power. With over half of the detainees being cleared for release with no release date set, it is clear international policy continues to fail these men.

What are the conditions? Indefinite detentions, enhanced interrogation techniques and detainees being prevented access to an adequate legal defense are just some of the violations committed via the US Government. Some of the rights not being afforded to the detainees are as follows: – The right to personal liberty and to be free from arbitrary arrest – The right to personal integrity – The right to the prohibition of torture Among more. At the date of this being written, the prison still contains 30 men. The failure of five US administrations to close Guantanamo despite these facts has brought into question the status of the United States as an advocate for Human Rights. This has opened the doors for criticisms from the global community for the US’s violations of and lack of compliance with longstanding international criminal justice systems. Holding the US accountable for its illegal actions is integral in upholding the influence and stature of international policy.

An important step in the right direction: For the first time since its creation in 2002, from February 6 th 2023 to March 6 th 2023, the United States Government allowed United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Fionnuala Ní Aoláin access to Guantanamo Bay on a technical visit. Her June 2023 published report following this visit notes not only violations of international law but a duty of the US Government to make reparations to past and present detainees. A significant quote from the report states the following: “The totality of these practices and omissions have cumulative, compounding effects on detainees’ dignity and fundamental rights, and amounts to ongoing cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.” She later goes on to conclude that closure of the facility remains top priority.

22 years on, with years of legal efforts, multiple administrations and empty promises, how is this still happening?

The US Military has admitted to the use of interrogation techniques that constitute torture or cruel and degrading treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Similar techniques were present in the case of Selmouni v France [2000], in which the courts unanimously decided the conditions suffered by Mr Selmouni at the hands of the French government violate Article 3. This case is significant in reaffirming the court’s opinion that Article 3 represents ‘one of the fundamental values in a democratic society’. Considering this outcome, the very existence of Guantanamo should be seen as fundamentally undemocratic. Alongside its history of abuse towards the detainees, the longevity of Guantanamo Bay brings into question a lack of enforcement measures when it comes to protecting fundamental human rights. The creation and retention of Guantanamo Bay and the conditions it perpetuates violate customary international law, the international covenant on civil and political rights, and the Geneva convention.

It’s important to consider the wider picture when discussing why this occurs. The structure of many international legal systems relies on the voluntary agreement of states to comply. It is difficult for any substantive enforcement measures to occur when the basis of compliance relies on states having the choice to sign on and facing no effective punishments for not adhering. Additionally, despite strong recommendations of closure by many international bodies, the structure of the UN and the US’s position on the security council have allowed any enforcement efforts to be stunted with no consequences afforded to the United States. This uncertainty and lack of efficient enforcement measures have a direct impact on the detainees, leaving them vulnerable and in a place of limbo.

So what can we do?

Fionnuala Ní Aoláin’s visit is a step in the right direction as it has placed the US administration under a higher level of scrutiny on the international stage. Continuing to question unlawful state actions, protesting and pressuring states to take accountability for their injustices should be continued going forward. The Unites States has huge global influence. Ensuring that they cannot get away with the extreme suffering they have caused due to Guantanamo could be significant in furthering future state’s compliance with international law. Moreover, it is extremely important for the development of international legal systems to ensure they are enforceable and that consequences aren’t only afforded to states through reputational damage. In future, Guantanamo Bay should be looked at as a pressing example of the serious consequences of states’ failures to comply with international law and not as a precedent. With the combination of it being an election year and the current climate surrounding human rights violations, it is more important than ever for President Biden to close Guantanamo Bay and pay reparations to the 779 men who have suffered inside its walls and further upon release.

Eylul Mitchell is an LLB Law Student at University of Brighton

Sources:

[1]S. Pearlman, Human Rights Violations at Guantánamo Bay: How the United States Has Avoided Enforcement of International Norms. (2015).
https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2279&context= sulr (accessed March 23, 2024).

[2]M. Sassoli, The Status of Persons Held in Guantánamo under International Humanitarian Law, SYMPOSIUM ON THE GUANTÁNAMO ENTANGLEMENT. (2004). https://www.ibanet.org/Guant%C3%A1namo-Bay-an-International- Humanitarian-and-Criminal-Law-Perspective#:~:text=Al%20Bahlul%20v.- ,United%20States.,a%20war%20crime:%20Attacking%20Civilians. (accessed March 23, 2024).

[3]IACHR: Towards the closure of Guantanamo, IACHR: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. (2015). https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/multimedia/guantanamo/guantanamo.html (accessed March 23, 2024).

[4]Guantánamo Bay: An international humanitarian and criminal law perspective, International Bar Association. (2022). https://www.ibanet.org/Guant%C3%A1namo-Bay-an-International-Humanitarian- and-Criminal-Law-Perspective#:~:text=Al%20Bahlul%20v.- ,United%20States.,a%20war%20crime:%20Attacking%20Civilians. (accessed March 23, 2024).

[5]F. Ní Aoláin, Technical Visit to the United States and Guantánamo Detention Facility by the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms While Countering Terrorism. (2023). https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23862470-2023-06-26-sr-terrorism- technical-visit-us-guantanamo-detention-facility?responsive=1&title=1 (accessed March 23, 2024).

We marked 22 Years of Injustice

Thursday 11th January shamefully marked 22 years since the first detainees were transferred in sub-human conditions to Guantanamo. 30 men still remain in detention. Over half of these men have been cleared for release. Others have been subjected to unfair trials. That makes five presidential administrations, three of them promising to finally close Guantanamo, yet still it sits there making hypocrites of us all.

The UK Guantanamo Network marked the day with a demonstration, marching from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square and hearing speeches by Apsana Begum MP, journalist and campaigner Andy Worthington, Lise Rossi of Amnesty International and others.

11 Jan 2024: One vigil and Two Online Events

Worldwide Vigil Against Guantanamo

A vigil will take place on Thursday 11th January from 1pm – 3pm outside the US Embassy in London, organised by Andy Worthington. Andy co-ordinates this event with groups in Brussels, Washington DC, Detroit, Mexico City and elsewhere around the world. You can read more about what is happening in other cities here. Please let Andy know if you can attend this vigil so he knows how many people to expect at: andy@andyworthington.co.uk

Online Events on the 11th

The first is from 1700-1800 GMT hosted by the American political think-tank New America, featuring Fionnuala Ni Aoliain, who wrote the recent UN report on Guantanamo, ex-detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi, and journalist Andy Worthington.

https://guantnamoattwentytwowhatisthef.splashthat.com/

The second is from 1830-2030 GMT hosted by CAGE, featuring Fionnuala Ni Aoliain, ex-detainees Mansoor Adayfi and Moazaam Begg, and the lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith who has represented a number of the men, plus two additional recently released detainees.

https://www.cage.ngo/events/guantanamo-at-22

Please also join us for these Guantanamo events in London and online. The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Closure of Guantanamo, which our group has helped get started, will be meeting at Westminster this month. Ex-detainees who spoke at the last meeting are now addressing politicians in the United States.

Your support is making a difference!

From America’s Guantánamo to Saudi Arabia’s Guillotine

Former detainee Mansoor Adayfi writes about the fate of men freed from Guantanamo only to be brutalised by their new “host” countries.

After spending decades imprisoned without charge or trial, many of the men released from Guantanamo Bay have been sent to countries where they have no rights and are mistreated by the authorities. Countries like Khazakhstan, the UAE, Algeria and especially Saudi Arabia have reimprisoned and tortured them. One man now faces execution for criticising his treatment.

America has failed in its duty of care to these men and the decisions made over their lives by host countries lack all transparency. These stories make clear why our

You can read Mansoor Adayfi’s article here.

Ex-Detainee Masoor Adayfi visits Parliament

_{Mansoor Adayfi (R) and Yusuf Mingazov (L) in the Pugin Room in the Houses of Parliament on November 15, 2023 (Photo: Andy Worthington).}

Former Guantanamo detainee Mansoor Adayfi visited Parliament in November, meeting members of the UK Guantanamo Network and Chris Law, MP, Chair of the APPG to Close Guantanamo.

Mansoor also had an emotional meeting with Yusuf Mingazov, the son of Ravil Mingazov, who spent 14 years in Guantanamo, much of it in the cell next to Mansoor. Ravil Mingazov was released in 2017, yet is now imprisoned in the UAE, without charge, without access to a lawyer or even the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Andy Worthtington was there at the meeting, and has written a detailed account on his website.