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Al-Qahtani Suicide Attempt at Guantanamo

Mohammed al-Qahtani, the Guantanamo detainee the Pentagon alleges was to be the "20th hijacker" attempted suicide in April, according to his lawyer, who was not allowed to reveal it until today due to the need for the Pentagon to clear her notes.

Mohammed al-Qahtani cut himself at least three times and had to be hospitalized at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba, attorney Gitanjali Gutierrez said. Al-Qahtani made the suicide attempt after learning military prosecutors filed capital charges against him and five other Guantanamo prisoners for their alleged roles in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I cannot accept this injustice," the lawyer quoted him as saying. "If I have to stay in this jail, I want to put an end to this suffering."

The Center for Constitutional Rights represents al-Qahtani and has much more information on his case and newly disclosed documents. Their press release today is here.

The torture techniques approved against al-Qahtani are below the fold:

• Beatings • Severe sleep deprivation combined with 20-hour interrogations for months at a time • Threats of rendition to other countries that torture • Explicit threats made against his family, including female members of his family • Strip searches, body searches and forced nudity, at times in the presence of female personnel • Sexual humiliation • Humiliation by forcing him to bark like a dog, dance with a mask on his face, and pick up piles of trash with his hands cuffed while he was called “a pig” • Denial of the right to practice his religion, including prohibiting him from praying for prolonged times and during Ramadan • Threats to desecrate the Koran in front of him • Attacks by dogs • Forcible administration of frequent IVs by medical personnel during interrogation • Being placed in acute stress positions for hours at a time • Being placed in tight restraints repeatedly for many months or days and nights • Exposure to low temperatures for extended periods of time • Exposure to loud music for prolonged times • At least 160 days of severe isolation
< Sen. Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor | New Inspector General Report on Detainee Abuse >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Close. Gitmo. NOW. (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by madamab on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:14:46 PM EST
    It's a travesty of justice, just like all of BushCheney's activities since stealing the White House.

    If I was trapped in a Kafka novel.... (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by kdog on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:16:44 PM EST
    like those souls in Guantanamo Bay, I'd be trying to off myself too...what sane person wouldn't?

    The culture of vengeance. (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Stellaaa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:20:07 PM EST


    Not surprising (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by kenoshaMarge on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:24:11 PM EST
    that someone would try to kill himself. What possible reason is there to hope?

    We have made ourselves an ugliness that nothing will ever erase completely from the world's memory. Every time I read something like this, or think about the hopelessness these people must feel I am ashamed that I am a citizen of a country that would do this.

    And your evidence (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Nadai on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:55:24 PM EST
    that Al-Qahtani has done anything is what, exactly?

    Parent
    You are not (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by kenoshaMarge on Tue May 20, 2008 at 02:51:33 PM EST
    what your name suggests. You are not a Hillary supporter and you are not a Democrat either, let alone a decent human being. Decent human beings don't think anyone has the right to stuff a person into a hole like Gitmo and throw away the key because someone "thinks" the man is guilty. Why bother with courts and laws? Right?

    The tragedy of 9/11 and all it's horror is not as much in the forefront of people's minds around the world these days as the acts committed by our country in response. How many have died or been maimed or are now refugees because of what our country has done?

     What will stay in the memory of the world is acts of barbarism from people that are not looking for justice but are committing vengeance on people who have been CONVICTED OF NOTHING.

    If the man is guilty, then bring him to trial and convict him and punish him. That's what a country that lives by the law does. Sad that you haven't the ability to see that.

    Parent

    literally feel sick now...In our name, no less. (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Lil on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:28:02 PM EST


    What would be severe (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by jondee on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:40:20 PM EST
    enough, publicly torturing him to death?

    I dont think anyone's saying he shouldnt be removed from society.

    Oh please. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by madamab on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:45:14 PM EST
    I live in New York too. Get over yourself.

    It's not about you, it's about the justice system.

    Parent

    I thought the topic was about torture. (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Lil on Tue May 20, 2008 at 03:28:04 PM EST
    There is nothing special about this guy. (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by madamab on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:43:21 PM EST
    He is a suspected criminal. He should have all the rights all suspected criminals have.

    Interesting how the blind sheik, who was behind the first bombing of the World Trade Center, is now sitting in jail because we treated him like a criminal and caught him with evidence that would hold up in court.

    Of course, that was when we had a sane President and a functioning justice system.

    Have you seen the evidence.... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by kdog on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:56:22 PM EST
    against this man?  I sure haven't, and absent seeing some evidence he should be free.  For all I know he is an innocent slob sold to the USA for a reward.

    Parent
    I thought this country (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by jondee on Tue May 20, 2008 at 02:01:51 PM EST
    was supposed to be trying to embody and exemplify "civilised values"?

    But, maybe all that goes out the window once you you've reached the level of decline in which your chosen head-of-state is a coked-out, egg sucking weasal from the hang 'em high state.

    Parent

    WTF? (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by squeaky on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:46:55 PM EST
    Have you been following this at all?  In America people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, although that does not seem to matter to you.  Do you believe it is OK for us to torture people?  What are you thinking?

    He is not being charged with any crime. The case against him was recently dropped. TL covered it here. Just because the US gov. has called him the 20th hijacker does not mean it is true.


    I Am Ashamed (none / 0) (#6)
    by squeaky on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:33:26 PM EST
    To be an american because of this blatant disregard for human rights and international law. Anyone who is thinking of voting for McCain, please think again. He is on board with BushCo 100% on this stain.

    All I can hope for is that the international community arrests and prosecutes these thugs the second they step out of the country.

    I wish I could agree.... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by kdog on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:37:19 PM EST
    that we only had McCain to worry about squeaky.

    Far as I can tell all 3 stooges are eager to put the jackboot down on a human face.

    Parent

    Anyone whose thinking (none / 0) (#14)
    by jondee on Tue May 20, 2008 at 01:44:34 PM EST
    about voting for McCain because Hillary wont be the candidate, need's a serious mental health evaluation, IMO.

    And, what does that say about Hillary?

    Parent

    Good (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by kenoshaMarge on Tue May 20, 2008 at 02:58:12 PM EST
    grief, now Hillary is responsible for the mental condition of anyone that supports her? And that mental condition is diagnosed by you? Have you a licenced medical person? Are you like Bill Frist in that you can diagnose folks without ever seeing them? In fact you can even make your snotty diagnosis just by having someone do something of which YOU do not approve.

    Serious mental evaluation? Faux physician, heal thyself.

    Parent

    Not the "mental condition" (none / 0) (#25)
    by jondee on Wed May 21, 2008 at 12:06:41 PM EST
    just the perception that McCain is the next best thing to her -- as exemplified by alot of the posts I've been reading here lately.

    Of course, you could say that political mosochism is a lifestyle choice and not a mental condition, if it'll make you feel better.

    Parent