Guantanamo Suicide Raises Questions
Binyam Claims Mohammad Abdullah Saleh Was Killed
The death of one Guantanamo Bay inmate, Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah Saleh Al Hanashi by alleged suicide in May 2009 has raised several questions amongst human rights activists and ex-detainees.On January 17, 2009 Ahmed Abdullah Saleh volunteered to represent the Guantanamo detainees in talks with the military and the detention camp's most senior commanders. He never returned and in fact since then had been held in the prison’s psychiatric ward.
Guantanamo Killed Detainee Saleh’s Character:
Binyam Muhammad, one of two Guantanamo Bay detainees to have been released so far, recalled solemnly in an article to Miami Herald, dated June 11 2009, “I was asked if I wanted to represent the prisoners on camp issues such as hunger strikes and other contentious issues. I declined, as did most. But poor Wadhah agreed, wanting to help his brothers the best he could. Little did he realize that if they didn’t get their way he would be the one sacrificed.”
Binyam refuses to believe that Saleh committed suicide and the US military refuses to say how he allegedly took his life. "He was patient and encouraged others to be the same," Binyam said.
The Blame of Saleh’s Death Lies in American Military’s Shoulders
Binyam was strong to hold the US military accountable. He points out that “Everything that someone could use to hurt himself has been removed from the cell, and a guard watches each prisoner 24 hours a day, in person and on videotape.In light of this, I am amazed that the US government has the audacity to describe Wadhah’s death categorically as an ‘apparent suicide.’”
Force-Feeding is a Common Practice in Guantanamo Bay
It is not surprising why an inmate would reach his death. The tortures committed against him are of utmost cruelty. Force-feeding is common in Guantanamo. All released inmates have spoken of force-feeding. Binyam Muhammad himself was force-fed. He described the experience of being strapped in a chair and fed liquid nutrients through a tube that is forced down through the nostrils.
Saleh too had been on a hunger-strike since January 2009. The military claims that he had resumed eating in May, a month before his death. Whether the military is right or not, the fact that Saleh could not be saved has left a bad taste in the mouths of human rights activists, those against the war on terrorism and Muslims at large.
Obama’s Government, Torture and Guantanamo Bay
Obama in his recent speech at Cairo addressing the Muslims laid great stress on breaking doubts against each other and approaching one another with sympathy and understanding. This speech took place only a few days after Saleh’s death. The speech not only did not address Saleh’s case but also failed to admit that under the Obama administration torture still continues towards Guantanamo prisoners.
The Muslim population and its sympathizers want to see Obama's actions backing his eloquent words. Obama categorically rejected torture in his Cairo speech. What the world wants to see is this translated into practice so that the detainees of Bush’s war on terror are brought to justice sooner than later.
What do you think about this article?
More in Politics & Society
Latest Articles