Speaking of International Torture Survivors Day.....

There is one particular detainee at Guantanamo who might not be a survivor for very much longer:

Yesterday, the Center for Constitutional Rights (led by Omar Farah) filed a motion for release on behalf of it's client Tariq Ba Odah, a long-term hunger striker whose weight has dropped to an alarming and precarious 75 pounds, signifying a crisis medical situation.   Per prior cases, the motion argues that the law of war principles embedded in the humanitarian provisions of Army Reg 190-8 (which authorize release of severely ill prisoners) constrain the government’s detention authority under the AUMF.  Along with their Motion they presented three expert opinions which paints a very worrying picture about Tariq’s physical and mental health.  Can a human being endure being forcibly fed commercial nutritional supplement for 8+ years?  As Omar Farah remarked "Only Gtmo knows, because no ethical doctor has attempted it before."

Read more about this humanitarian disaster and about the continuing torture of this man- here.

  The filings are linked below.

• Memo in Support of Motion for Judgment on the Record
• Farah Declaration in Support of Motion
• Ghannam Declaration in Support of Motion
• Bailony Declaration in Support of Motion
• Crosby Declaration in Support of Motion

Another Detainee Cleared for Release....

Saudi detainee Abdul Shalabi- ISN 42. Given his number I would guess he was one of the first to arrive-- so he has been there more than 13 years..... 

Based on  Shalabi’s PRB clearance the current breakdown of detainees is as follows:

The prison population remains at 116: 52 are cleared, 54 are awaiting clearance, and 10 are in the military commission system.

Of the 52 cleared, 43 (83%) are Yemenis and 9 are non-Yemenis.

Of the 54 still awaiting clearance, 24 are Yemenis and 30 are non-Yemenis.

Torture Survivors....

Today is international Torture Survivors day. Every man at Guantanamo (still alive) is a torture survivor.
What can you do? Speak out against torture- write to politicians and newspapers to express your disgust with torture- and demand that those that inflicted- and continue to inflict- torture are held accountable.