Multimedia & Educational Content
To fully understand the human cost and legal implications of Guantanamo Bay, it's essential to explore the stories, voices, and investigations that have emerged over the past two decades. This section offers a curated collection of documentaries, books, interviews, articles, and podcasts that expose the realities of indefinite detention, torture, and the global justice movement. These materials are invaluable for educators, students, journalists, and anyone committed to human rights and the rule of law.
Documentaries and Films
▶ The Mauritanian
Based on the international bestseller Guantánamo Diary, this powerful feature film tells the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man who was imprisoned at Guantanamo for 14 years without charge. The film stars Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, and Benedict Cumberbatch, and powerfully depicts both the injustice of his detention and the legal fight for his release.
▶ The Gitmo Files
This documentary investigates leaked U.S. government documents that shed light on the inner workings of Guantanamo Bay. Using material released by WikiLeaks and analysed by journalists from The Guardian and The New York Times, the film explores how individuals were captured, categorised, and detained with little to no due process.
▶ Ghosts of Guantanamo
A deep, investigative dive into Guantanamo’s legacy, Ghosts of Guantanamo features interviews with former detainees, lawyers, military officials, and human rights advocates. The documentary also highlights the systemic failures of the legal framework surrounding the prison and the long-term effects on those who were imprisoned.
▶ Guantanamo: Blacked Out Bay
This documentary looks at the continued secrecy and censorship surrounding Guantanamo. It examines how the U.S. government has prevented journalists and international monitors from gaining full access to the prison and raises important questions about transparency and accountability.
▶ Inside Guantanamo
A rare look inside the facility, filmed with the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Defence. While often criticised for its framing, the film is useful for understanding the military’s portrayal of detention operations and offers footage from inside the camps.
Books
▶ Guantánamo Diary - Mohamedou Ould Slahi
Written from inside his prison cell, this international bestseller is one of the most harrowing and human accounts of Guantanamo ever published. Slahi details his torture, isolation, and psychological torment, while also conveying surprising moments of humour, hope, and resilience.
▶ The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days - Karen Greenberg
A compelling narrative that explores the initial formation of Guantanamo. Greenberg uses internal documents and interviews to examine how an effort to create a temporary holding centre quickly spiralled into one of the most controversial detention facilities in the world.
▶ Enemy Combatant - Moazzam Begg
British citizen Moazzam Begg recounts his arrest in Pakistan, detention at Bagram Air Base, and subsequent imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay. His memoir is a powerful testimony to state-sanctioned injustice, as well as a deeply personal reflection on faith, identity, and resilience.
▶ Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo - Mansoor Adayfi
In this deeply personal and haunting memoir, Mansoor Adayfi recounts his 14 years at Guantanamo Bay, where he was imprisoned without charge after being abducted at the age of 18. Through letters, journal entries, and vivid storytelling, Adayfi reveals the daily brutality of life in the camp, the loss of his youth, and the bonds he formed with other detainees.
▶ Torture Team - Philippe Sands
This investigative book traces the legal architects behind the use of torture at Guantanamo and elsewhere. It shows how lawyers in the Bush administration manipulated U.S. and international law to authorise abuse, and the long-term impact of those decisions.
▶ Habeas Corpus After 9/11 - Jonathan Hafetz
A legal deep dive into how habeas corpus rights were challenged, redefined, and in some cases eliminated in the wake of the War on Terror. Hafetz, a lawyer who represented Guantanamo detainees, provides firsthand insights into the legal battles fought in U.S. courts.
Podcasts & Interviews
▶ The Guantanamo Docket (The New York Times)
Based on an interactive investigative project, this podcast offers case-by-case profiles of detainees, how they were captured, and their fates. It humanizes those imprisoned and shines a light on the often flimsy or unverified intelligence used to justify their detention.
▶ Justice Interrupted
A podcast series featuring lawyers, human rights defenders, and former detainees discussing the ongoing legal and political struggles related to Guantanamo. Topics include indefinite detention, post-release trauma, and the erosion of legal protections.
▶ Interrogating Torture
A hard-hitting series of interviews with survivors of U.S. detention and interrogation programs, including those formerly held at Guantanamo. These personal narratives expose the emotional and psychological toll of captivity and the long road to healing.
▶ The Secret History of Guantanamo Bay (Radiolab)
An exploration of the geopolitical and legal history of the Guantanamo site itself—how the U.S. came to occupy the land, and how it became a site of legal exception. This podcast offers important context for understanding Guantanamo’s unique legal ambiguity.
▶ CAGE: Witness
A podcast from the UK-based advocacy organisation CAGE, featuring testimonies from former detainees and their families. The series focuses on rehabilitation, Islamophobia, and state surveillance, linking Guantanamo to broader issues of systemic injustice.