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Afsan Bhuiyan
Mrs. Latham
English 2010
04/07/2015
Horror in Guantanamo Bay Prison
Guantanamo Bay prison is a prison for detainees who are war captives and has link to Al
Qaeda or Taliban. There are many camps in Guantanamo Bay, and each camp has its own
facilities and system. Detainees can move from one camp to another camp (better camp)
depending on the cooperation the detainees give. The laws for Guantanamo Bay Prison
interrogation has been established by the Bush administration. The Bush administration states
interrogating a detainee till he/she is dead or till he/she has organ failure is considered to be
torture and violates the law for POWs(prisoners of war) in GITMO(Guantanamo Bay prison).
Whats allowed in GITMO is waterboarding, forced nudity, sleep deprivation, temperature
extremes, stress positions, and prolonged isolation which is considered safe, legal, ethical, and
effective (Neglect of Medical Evidence). There has been reports of detainees with severe
psychological and physical illnesses in GITMO prison from interrogations. Other reports show
religious and sexual abuse that they encountered. These incidents that occur in GITMO
questions the humanity of whats really going on in Guantanamo Bay. There is political, medical,
and moral problems that arise from the situation in GITMO (Guantanamo Bay prison). People
who are aware of Guantanamo Bay prison, especially people working for the U.S government
and the U.S military must understand the harsh interrogation methods used in GITMO which
causes Al Qaeda and their allies to propagate about the situation in Guantanamo Bay to recruit
members (Sunni Muslims). The U.S government must reduce the severe interrogation occurring

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in GITMO, increase more access in the Guantanamo Bay prison, give the detainees specific
rights (religious, sexual, medical), treat detainees humanely and show integrity towards the
world to prevent extremist groups to propagate about the Guantanamo Bay situation.
First of all, the lack of security and access in Guantanamo Bay contributes the
interrogators more freedom to interrogate the detainees however they want. Many of the
interrogators violated and abused the detainees in unexpected ways. For example, Staff Sgt.
Joseph Hickman, a Marine veteran who reenlisted in the Maryland National Guard after 9/11
(Connelly, Sherryl, SC. "Guantanamo Bay Sergeant) found three detainees (Yasser Talal alZahrani of Yemen, and Salah Ahmed al-Salami and Mani Shaman al-Utaybi, both of Saudi
Arabia) were found with rags in their mouth and one of them was badly bruised. A guard
(unknown) in GITMO announced that the three detainees committed suicide. Although, Hickman
knew that the detainees didnt have access to materials like rags or socks inside the prison to kill
themselves. Also, there are five guards during the night of the suicide that were ordered to check
the prisons of the detainees every three minutes. The guards had to visually check if the
prisoners had been breathing. If the guards violated any of those rules then they would be
punished, but none of the guards were punished for the suicides of the detainees. Hickman found
a chemical mefloquine inside the three detainees cell. The chemical mefloquine gives you a
mental breakdown. The intense level of secrecy enforced at the camp prohibited Hickman from
raising questions (Connelly, Sherryl, SC. "Guantanamo Bay Sergeant). This raises the question
on the integrity of the guards and the people who reported the incident. Bizarre incidents like
Hickmans convey how privately interrogating detainees can lead guards to violate the law of
handling POWs. There should be cameras to record the detainees twenty four seven to prevent

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any unexpected incident like the suicide of the detainees. The lack of security and access to
Guantanamo Bay leads to sexual abuse the detainees went through.
The detainees go through severe physical and psychological illnesses. Most of the
illnesses of detainees are not treated. The detainees are most likely to be treated if the detainee
cooperate with the interrogators. There are nine individuals who are detainees with medical
records that convey the physical and psychological injuries that they received in the prison
GTMO medical records documented injuries that were consistent or highly consistent with
detainee allegations of abuse: contusions (2), bone fractures (3), lacerations (2), peripheral nerve
damage (1), and sciatica (2). (Neglect of Medical Evidence) Although we dont know the
cause of the physical injuries, but we know that these detainees were badly beaten or horribly
treated. We cant assume that the detainees were physically injured from interrogators without
physical proof. Although we know that the detainees were physically injured in the prison. Also,
the detainees never had any psychological problems in their past life nor any psychological
problems of their family history. The eight out of the nine detainees had psychological symptoms
of nightmares (5), suicidal ideation (4), depression (2), audiovisual hallucinations (3), suicide
attempts (2), anxiety/claustrophobia (2), memory and concentration difficulties (1), and
dissociative states (2) (Neglect of Medical Evidence) in Guantanamo Bay prison. Again, we
do not know the cause of these psychological problems, but these problems occurred when they
were in prison. We need security cameras with audio to know what the interrogators are actually
doing with the detainees. When cameras are installed then we can find if any interrogators/guards
are violating the detainees. Letting go of the physical and psychological of the detainees is
inhumane, so full access to Guantanamo Bay should be ordered by the U.S government. There
are factors like sexual abuse which leads detainee to have had physical or psychological injuries.

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The sexual abuses that occurred in Guantanamo Bay prison include rape, molestation and
other forms of sexual acts. The interrogators sexually abused the detainees to humiliate them, so
the detainee is forced to give out information. There are female interrogators that arouse and
sexually abuse the detainee to get information out of him (Report: Torture and Cruel). The
detainees are not allowed to fornicate or have sexual physical contact with non-mahram (woman
he can marry or married woman) because of their Islamic religion. Although not all sexual abuse
is heterosexual. For example, the released British prisoners allege that several young prisoners
said they were taken to isolated sections of the prison and raped by guards ("Report: Torture and
Cruel). If the boys were underage then this act would be pedophilia. Also, an Algerian man was
forced to watch a video where two prisoners dressed in orange sodomize each other. The
interrogators blackmailed the Algerian man by saying he would get sodomized just like in the
video if he didnt cooperate. ("Report: Torture and Cruel) The interrogators are using
horrendous tactics to get information out of the detainee just like how a rapist threatens his
victims to force him/her to do an action. Another example is about a MP from Unit 94 who
threatened to rape a detainee named Mr. Al Noaimi in his cell. The MP taunted him by winking
and blowing kisses at him. Then the MP attempted to enter the cell while another MP stood
lookout, but either due to a fear of detection or a change of mind, he (MP who wanted to rape)
left the cell and did not carry out his threat. ("Report: Torture and Cruel). The tactic of
threatening a detainee to rape him is not effective because the interrogators intention could lead
him to do an immoral action just like how the MPs intention lead him to almost rape the
detainee. Sexual abuse isnt the only mistreatment the detainees received, but religious abuse as
well which is very degrading to the detainees.

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Religious abuse leads to anger and humiliation among the detainees. The only time the
interrogators would show respect of the detainees religion is when the detainee cooperates with
them. Abusing the religion of the detainees creates an unwelcoming atmosphere for them to
practice their religion. For example, there was a female interrogator who smeared fake
menstrual blood on a prisoner the intent of this appalling treatment was to make the prisoner
feel so unclean that he would not be able to pray (Report: Torture and Cruel). If the
detainee prays then he needs clean clothes. The only way to get clean clothes is if the detainee
cooperates with the interrogators. Although, preventing the detainee from praying pray takes
away the freedom of the detainees religion. The prayer of the detainee is not harming the
GITMO guards, so taking the right of the detainee to pray is inhumane. Another example, where
Shafiq (Born Dudley, West Midlands, England, but Pakistan origin) was religiously abused by
the GITMO guards. Shafiq says I had to run as fast as I could with my legs shackled and I was
bent over with a sack over my head. We were taken to another tent. There they cut off all my
clothes and forcefully shaved our beards and heads. I was taken outside. I was completely naked
with a sack on my head and I could 16 hear dogs barking nearby and soldiers shouting get em
boy.(Tipton Three) Interrogators in Guantanamo Bay religiously abuse the detainees by
shaving their beards. Keeping a beard is mandatory according to orthodox Islam which Shafiq
follows. Also, showing the genital area to anyone (other than the spouse) is prohibited in Islam.
The interrogators abused Shafiq by forcing him to get naked. Humiliating and degrading a
detainee by stripping him is a cruel act because basically the guards are trying to force the
detainee to stop him from practicing his religion. The interrogators know that stripping the
detainee is not necessary. Not only the interrogators abuse the rights of detainees to practice their
nonviolent religious rituals, but the interrogators abuse their book which is the holy Quran. There

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was an incidence where an interrogator thrown a prisoners Quran on the floor, stepped on it,
and kicked it across the room. ("Report: Torture and Cruel). Abusing the Quran is an insult
and an attack to the Muslims who respect the Quran. If the interrogator abused a bible then the
Christians (the major religion in America) would get mad over the incident, and most likely
protest to charge the interrogator. If any religious books like the bible which Christian guards in
GITMO read are respected in the Guantanamo Bay prison then the Quran should be respected in
the same level. Not only the detainees religion is abused, but they are medically abused as well
as another form of degrading the detainee.
There are doctors and psychologists who were supposed to take care of detainees to help
them psychologically and physically. Although, the interrogators take the illnesses of the
detainees as an advantage to obtain information out of them. For example, Mohammad reported
that he had a rash on his back and was told it would not be treated until he cooperated with
interrogators (Report: Torture and Cruel). This incident shows the cruelty of the interrogators
of taking away the medical rights from the detainee. If the interrogators want to keep the
detainees alive then the detainees should be treated humanely by receiving the right treatment.
Abusing a detainees body to make him suffer is atrocious. Another case where Omar Deghayes
saw prisoners denied of the prosthetic devices they need for their prosthetic limbs. Omar said It
was one of the most depressing experiences I have endured. The prisoners were effectively
blackmailed by their interrogators who said that they had to cooperate in order to get their
prosthetic devices back. They are denied the toilet chairs, the sticks they need to walk and even
the cream they need to ensure that the wound will not become infected and inflamed. The pain is
apparently particularly great when they are denied the necessary prosthetic socks, so that the
wounds are exposed to the extreme cold of the cells. ("Report: Torture and Cruel). Playing

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with the limbs of the detainee is an inhumane act to obtain information from the detainee. The
detainee has the right to own his body. If the interrogators abuse and control his limps then the
detainee is playing with the life of the detainee. Abusing the limbs of the detainee is absolutely
brutal and a crime against humanity. The U.S government should take actions against the cruel
acts in GITMO.
There is contradiction between the law of POWs in GITMO established by the Bush
administration and the Geneva conventions of POWs. The Geneva Convention states people who
fall into enemy hands during conflicts must be provided with protection. Also, torture is
prohibited by the UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. The interrogation approved by the Bush administration such as
waterboarding (simulated drowning), forced nudity, sleep deprivation, temperature extremes,
stress positions, and prolonged isolation(Neglect of Medical Evidence) constitutes torture
according to the Geneva Convention. Now Osama Bin Ladin is using the horrifying situation in
Guantanamo Bay as a propaganda he mentioned the crimes at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo
which shook the conscience of humanity. (Jamie Tarabay Abu Ghraib Closes) to recruit
members (Sunni Muslims). If the U.S government reduces the interrogation methods or at least
follows the Geneva Convention of handling POWs then the detainees would be handled more
humanly. As detainees are handled more humanly then Al Qaeda cannot use the situation in
Guantanamo Bay as propaganda. Also, interrogating a detainee harshly is barely effective, and
could lead the detainee to give out false information. For example, Moazzam Begg(released
detainee) talks about Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi who gave a false confession in Guantanamo Bay
about how Al Qaeda is working with Saddam Hussein who is planning on creating weapons of
mass destruction which led the American military to go after Saddam Hussein in Iraq. (CIA

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Torture - Guantanamo Bay) Severe interrogations are not effective all the time especially where
detainees dont fear death for the sake of their religion.
Guantanamo Bay keeps detainees who were suspected of terrorism. Most detainees are
linked to Al Qaeda or Taliban. There has been cases of detainees who were interrogated, but
didnt have any charge of terrorism. The detainees are interrogated privately (CIA Torture Guantanamo Bay). Approved interrogation methods are waterboarding, forced nudity, sleep
deprivation, temperature extremes, stress positions, and prolonged isolation to be safe, legal,
ethical, and effective (Neglect of Medical Evidence) as long as you dont interrogate the
detainees till death or till organ failure. The detainees countered many forms of sexual, religious,
and medical abuse in the prison. The extremist military group such as Al Qaeda uses the situation
in Guantanamo Bay as a propaganda to recruit members. The detainees must be given rights,
and the U.S government must reduce the severe interrogation methods used on detainees.
Detainees should be treated more humanly. The detainees must be given many rights which
were not given to them in the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Work Cited

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Brand, Russell. "CIA Torture - Guantanamo Bay." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 22
Feb. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sl7ojcIj8E>.
"Neglect of Medical Evidence of Torture in Guantnamo Bay: A Case Series." PLoS Medicine
8.4 (2011): E1001-1006. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
CONNELLY, SHERRYL, SC. "Guantanamo Bay Sergeant Claims CIA Tortured 3 Men to
Death." NY Daily News. NY Daily News, 17 Jan. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/guantanamo-bay-sergeant-claims-ciatortured-3-men-death-article-1.2082610>.
"Report: Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment of Prisoners at Guantanamo
Bay." Center for Constitution RSS. CRR Justice, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015.
<http://ccrjustice.org/learn-more/reports/report:-torture-and-cruel,-inhuman,-anddegrading-treatment-prisoners-guantanamo->.
"Report: Tipton Three Detention in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay." Center for Constitution
RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
<http://ccrjustice.org/tipton-three>.
Tarabay, Jamie, J.T. "Abu Ghraib Closes, Bitter Memories of Torture Remain | Al Jazeera
America." Abu Ghraib Closes. Al Jazeera, 16 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
<http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/15/abu-ghraib-s-infamousend.html>.
Wood, Sara, SW. "Military Commission Proceedings at Guantanamo Bay - U.S. Department of
Defense Official Website." Military Commission Proceedings at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Department of Defense Official Website. United States Department of Defense, 11
Nov. 2004. Web. 02 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.defense.gov/home/features/gitmo/facilities.html>.

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I deleted the part about Moazzam Begg because that situation was too specific. I
deleted the part where I talk about how the rights of POWs does not apply to the
detainees because that becomes like an argument which is not technically my
argument. Pretty much I tried to have a background context of GITMO prison then
slowly started to implement my argument. I used only one source about what are
legal for interrogating detainees in GITMO because that gives the reader an idea of
the interrogations in GITMO; I was just trying to be general with that part. I wanted
to make my introduction flow.

I have included my target audience in the introduction.

I made sure to explain my source integration.

My introduction is the context or background of GITMO, and I made sure each

sentence has a connection to the other sentences.
I made sure to have the right word choices, and not be too vague with my
sentences. Especially words like done or made.

I deleted sentences that were unnecessary. I rewrote sentences that werent

grammatically correct or weak and made them more clear.