“Close Guantanamo & Bagram prisons: Kabul, Afghanistan”

Three former detainees were among activists that joined a protest on Saturday 3rd January 2016 to call for President Barack Obama to keep the promise he made shortly after he came to power to close the now notorious Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. Omar Khan (60) was also present, a father who spoke to New Afghan Press longing for the release of his son imprisoned in a place of “dark rooms” filled with “innocent people”. Khaama media reported,

“The protesters, some dressed in orange uniforms like the captives wear at Guantanamo prison, were holding banners carrying the slogans of ‘Close Guantanamo! Guantanamo a shame on Human Rights! Guantanamo and Bagram a mole on the forehead of democracy! You can kill us but not our thoughts! I was a detainee ask me!”

Activists gathered outside the US Embassy in Kabul as military convoys rolled past the posters detailing human rights abuses. Following 9/11 men were rounded up in Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of the “War on Terror” and sold for a bounty to the Americans. Detainees were held without charge or trial for years and even after being cleared for release experienced long delays before they saw freedom.

In the following article journalist Ali M Latifi who was born in Kabul and works for LA Times highlights the case of Obaidullah whose daughter now 12 has only seen her father through a computer screen. See article as follows,

“Family fears that Afghan prisoner at Guantanamo will be forgotten”

http://www.latimes.com/world/afghanistan-pakistan/la-fg-afghanistan-detainee-20150408-story.html

Activists from around the world joined in tweeting the photos of the demonstration and highlighted a video showing force-feeding inflicted on hunger striking prisoners made by Yassin Bey (aka Mos Def) hip hop recording artist, actor, comedian, and activist from Brooklyn, New York City, see following link,

Men who were formerly incarcerated in Bagram prison another well know centre of abuse added their voices to the demonstration. The Frontier Post stated,

“Abdul Rahman Hottak, head of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), told journalists after the demonstration that eight former Afghan detainees of Gitmo jail the detainees claimed that prisoners were tortured there. ‘The AIHRC is very concerned over the inhumane treatment there. President Obama had promised to close the jail but has not yet fulfilled his pledge. We all reiterate the demand that the US should shut the jail and bring an end to human rights violations,’ he said. Besides others, at least two Afghan detainees also died at the Gitmo jail.”

Images from the protest (supplied by Mutmaeen, Investigative Journalist and writer, Kabul, Afghanistan  )

“Close Guantanamo & Bagram prisons: Protest in front of US embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan”

“Guantanamo detainee with me. Close Guantanamo. Protest in front of US embassy. Kabul. Starting.”

“3 Guantanamo released prisoners. Protest in front of America Embassy. Kabul, Afghanistan”

“Close Guantanamo & Bagram prisons: Protest in front of US embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan”

“Close Guantanamo & Bagram prisons: Protest in front of US embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan”

“Close Guantanamo & Bagram prisons: Protest in front of US embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan” 

“US convoy passes Close Guantanamo campaign in Kabul”

“Close Guantanamo: Protest. In front of US embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan”

Links

For an extensive source of articles detailing prisoners at Guantanamo and Bagram see Andy Worthington’s website. Andy describes himself as “writer, campaigner, investigative journalist and commentator. Recognized as an authority on Guantánamo and the “war on terror.” Co-founder, Close Guantánamo, co-director, We Stand With Shaker. Also, singer and songwriter (The Four Fathers) and photographer.”

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/category/guantanamo/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.