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Other military statements about prisoner abuse

The following testimonies come from files on Guantánamo produced by personnel from the Department of the Army (the civilian branch of the US Government within which the United States Army is organized). They were obtained by the ACLU through Freedom of Information requests.

 

ACLU File DOD045037 (Activity Contents)

  • Page 1: “[REDACTED] spoke of the mistreatment and injustice that he and his Muslim brothers have endured during the last year and insisted that he is no longer a man, but is now an animal living in a zoo.”

  • Page 2: “[REDACTED] has suffered from headaches and dizziness since arriving at Camp Delta. The doctors have seen him, but the medicine he is taking for the headaches only makes them worse.”

  • Page 2: “The medical staff at Camp Delta laughs at [REDACTED] when he complains of his medical problems.”
  • Page 2: “The guards at Camp Delta have beaten [REDACTED] on several occasions [FILE SAYS DETAINEE DOES NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE BEATING]."

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ACLU File DOD045043 (08 Nov 02. Guantanamo Bay. CITF. Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 2: "[REDACTED] continued to refuse to answer their questions. [REDACTED] became angry and told him to think about it [and], when they were leaving the room, one of [REDACTED] turned the Air Conditioner down as low as it would go and left him in the room for approximately 7-8 without any food or water. According to [REDACTED] the room became so cold that he was shaking and his muscles hurt.”
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ACLU File DOD045049 (Activity Contents. FM40)

  • Page 1: "On 11/26/2002 [REDACTED], ISN [REDACTED], was interviewed at Camp Delta, U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] was very frustrated with his treatment at the camp and at the hands of the military police (MP) whom he said were torturing him and other prisoners by preventing them from sleeping, praying and being left in peace and by taking away their comfprt items […] [REDACTED] then explained that although he was innocent, he had been held for a long time and tortured.”

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ACLU File DOD045033 (Activity Contents. FM40)

  • Page 1: "[REDACTED] advised he is dissatisfied with the treatment the detainees are receiving by U.S. Military personnel that are assigned to Camp Delta. [REDACTED] advised he and others have been "beaten, spit upon and treated worse than a dog." [REDACTED] elaborated on the fact that the U.S. Military Canine (guard dog) receives better care than the detainees."
  • Page 2: "[REDACTED] when questioned about war crimes, stated that he fell victim to unjust abuse while in Kandahar, AF, by American soldiers. [REDACTED] stated that on the day of his transfer to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he and others were being medically examined in a large tent by the Americans. While restrained and lying on the floor face down he was punched several times by an unknown American soldier in uniform. [REDACTED] stated that he was being hit on his back (the exit wound from being shot). [REDACTED] also stated that an American soldier then kicked him, causing damage to his face and breaking a tooth. [REDACTED] stated that after he was kicked all the people in the tent laughed.”

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ACLU File DOD045062 (Activity Contents. FM40)

  • Page 1: "On 1/20/03, [REDACTED] aka [REDACTED] Internment Serial Number (ISN) [REDACTED] was interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] stated that his brother attempted suicide on 1/17/03 while in isolation. One of the detainees in [REDACTED] Cell Block, also in isolation at the time of the incident, told [REDACTED] that [REDACTED] had been beaten by the guards and was dead […] He then commented that the detainees in isolation are being mistreated by force. When asked if he had personally witnessed any of this, [REDACTED] replied that he was told this by his brothers."
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ACLU File DOD045074 (Activity Contents. FM40)

  • Page 1: "On 2/27/2003, [REDACTED], Internment Serial Number (ISN) [REDACTED], was interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay […] [REDACTED] advised he had nothing to say. He stated that a brother was killed while in isolation, the Koran has been humiliated, posters are placed all over to trick the detainees and that these were his last words."
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ACLU File DOD045078 (CITF. Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 2: "Some of the guards treat the detainees well and some just want to cause trouble. Some of the guards known as "94" and "keys" treat the detainees badly."
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ACLU File DOD045137 (CITF. Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 1: 12 Apr 04/GTMO, Cuba. [REDACTED], ISN [REDACTED] was interviewed by SA [REDACTED] AFOSI, at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] claimed the MPs mocked detainees duting prayer and some of the detainees were not getting proper medical attention. When asked for specific incidents pertaining to the lack of medical care, [REDACTED] could not provide any. He said MPs were disruptive during prayer time by kicking the walls or stomping their feet in the cell block, causing unnecessary noise."

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ACLU File DOD045108 (Activity Contents. FM40)

  • Page 1: On 18AUG03 [REDACTED] aka [REDACTED], ISN [REDACTED] was interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] advised he was on a hunger strike with all the other Saudi detinees. [REDACTED] advised this was in response to a "interrogator" wrapping a detainee in an Israeli flag and stomping on a Quran. [REDACTED] advised this happened some time ago and the matter was brought to the attention of everyone in Camp Delta. [REDACTED] advised they (the detainees) were advised the interrogator had been fired and an apology was going to be written by the "General". [REDACTED] stated [that] when the detainees discovered the interrogator was not removed or disciplined, and that the General was not going to issue an apology, the Saudi[s] decided to go on a hunger strike and not talk in interviews as a way of protesting until the interrogator is remouved and an apology is received for disrespecting the Quran"

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ACLU File DOD045130 (CITF. Report of Investigative Activ[ity])

  • Pages 1-2: "On 15 Dec 03, [REDACTED], ISN# [REDACTED] was interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] currently refuses medical attention because he did not receive adequate medical attention in the past. He stated that he complained of headaches and neck pain and was told that an appointment was being made but no doctor came to check the problem. [REDACTED] requested a specific medicine for a rash, which he had, but was told by a nurse that the medicine could not be administered. [REDACTED] advised that this negative treatment is the cause for his current refusal for medical treatment."

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ACLU File DOD045147 (Memorandum for Commander, DoD CITF)

  • Page 1: "During an interview conducted on 3 June 2004, by [REDACTED] at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba it was alleged by [REDACTED] he was tortured by U.S. interrogators […] [REDACTED] claims he was made to stand with his arms outstretched for three hours, then forced to kneel until he had a heart problem and collapsed. He stated he was taken to the hospital, but the interrogator came and took him out. He said the interrogator told him he would not be allowed to return to the hospital until he had confessed he was an Al Qaida member."

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ACLU File DOD045080 (Activity Contents. FM40)

  • Page 1: "On 18 Apr 03, [REDACTED], Internment Serial Number (ISN) [REDACTED], was interviewed […] at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] stated that he was in good health but is not eating well due to the stress of prison."

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ACLU File DOD045082 (Air Force Office of Special Investiga[tion]. Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 1: "On 22 Apr 03 [REDACTED] , was interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] indicated that he was feeling well, but had some general complaints regarding the treatment at Camp Delta. His complaints ranged from general statements such as, "this is a war against Islam, and we are being persecuted because we are Muslims," to more specific complaints of physical abuse and sexual abuse. Whe asked if he observed any of these allegations occurring he stated that he did not but, that he had heard from other detainees that they were "true". When questioned regarding which detainees made these allegations, he was unable to provide a name or a detainee[']s cell location."

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ACLU File DOD 045086 (CITF Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 1: "On 03 Jun 03, [REDACTED] ISN # [REDACTED] was interviewed at Camp Delta, U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] He complained that he has not received any mail in about two months and was not allowed to wite any letters. He stated this policy has been in effect for about four months […] during the 2 May 2003 interview, he stated he lied and only took one trip to Afghanistan, in 2001. The interrogators asked him to explain why he lied and [REDACTED] stated when he was arrested "they told me to lie." He stated when he was "kidnapped", he was tortured (electric shocks and shots) and told to lie. However, he did not identify who told him to lie. [REDACTED] again claimed that he was told he would be given $4 million, a new name, and his family would be moved if he stated he knew Usama Bi[n] Laden. He stated one month later, he was given electric shocks, beaten, and tortured."

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ACLU File DOD045093 (CITF Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 2: "[on 30 Jun 03 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba] [REDACTED] clarified that he had not been tortured by his interrogators, but others had by the Army. He said the torture techniques consisted of playing loud infidel music, turning the air conditioning on real cold or making the room very hot."

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ACLU File DOD045095 (CITF Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 1: "On 18 Jul 03, [REDACTED], Internment Serial Number (ISN) [REDACTED], was interviewed […] at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] complained of being mistreated by US forces while in detention in Bagram and during his transit to Camp Delta. [REDACTED] pointed to marks on his wrists that he claimed were caused by the shackles. Additionally, he claimed that he was upset by having to wear a hood while on transit and that guards did not respond to a pain in his ear. Further, [REDACTED] alleged that the guards beat him."

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ACLU File DOD045098 (CITF Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 1: "[REDACTED], Internment Serial Number (ISN) [REDACTED] was interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on July 24, 2003 […] Until this interview, [REDACTED] has been cooperative with interrogators. However, he is presently on a strike regarding talking with interrogators due to an alleged incident involving an interrogator humiliating the Koran during the interrogation of another detainee. [REDACTED] did not witness the incident and only heard about it through hearsay […] [REDACTED] is currently housed on C block and advised that approximately 16 other detainees in his bock are in this strike. Beginning today, they are also starting a hunger strike. [REDACTED] stated the strike would end once the detainees saw something in writing regarding the prohibition of acts that humiliate the Koran and/or Islam."

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ACLU File DOD045099 (CITF Report of Investigative Activity)

  • Page 1: "On 26 Jul 03, [REDACTED] Internment Serial Number (ISN) [REDACTED] was interviewed […] at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba […] [REDACTED] expressed satisfaction with the food and living conditions. However [REDACTED] described a rash that has been persistent for 11 months […] [REDACTED] described the doctors as "nice and knowledgeable" and that the rash may be due to stress and worry over his captivity."

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ACLU File


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