Jun 24, 2013
Aamer, among the over 100 inmates at the prison on hunger strike, detailed the escalating brutality officials at the prison are meting out in a effort to break the months-long hunger strike.
Techniques include making cells "freezing cold" to accentuate the discomfort of those on hunger strike and the introduction of "metal-tipped" feeding tubes, which Aamer said were forced into inmates' stomachs twice a day and caused detainees to vomit over themselves.
The 46-year-old from London tells of one detainee who was admitted to hospital 10 days ago after a nurse had pushed the tube into his lungs rather than his stomach, causing him later to cough up blood. Aamer also alleges that some nurses at Guantanamo Bay are refusing to wear their name tags in order to prevent detainees registering abuse complaints against staff.
The British resident, who has been cleared for release by both the Bush and Obama administrations, has spent over 11 years at the prison without trial.
Aamer's testimony was given to the Observer by Clive Stafford Smith, his U.S. attorney and the director of the UK-based Reprieve, who said, "These gruesome new details show just how bad things are in Guantanamo. The whole thing is at breaking point. Clearly the US military is under enormous pressure and doing everything it can to hurt the men and break the hunger strike."
_________________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Aamer, among the over 100 inmates at the prison on hunger strike, detailed the escalating brutality officials at the prison are meting out in a effort to break the months-long hunger strike.
Techniques include making cells "freezing cold" to accentuate the discomfort of those on hunger strike and the introduction of "metal-tipped" feeding tubes, which Aamer said were forced into inmates' stomachs twice a day and caused detainees to vomit over themselves.
The 46-year-old from London tells of one detainee who was admitted to hospital 10 days ago after a nurse had pushed the tube into his lungs rather than his stomach, causing him later to cough up blood. Aamer also alleges that some nurses at Guantanamo Bay are refusing to wear their name tags in order to prevent detainees registering abuse complaints against staff.
The British resident, who has been cleared for release by both the Bush and Obama administrations, has spent over 11 years at the prison without trial.
Aamer's testimony was given to the Observer by Clive Stafford Smith, his U.S. attorney and the director of the UK-based Reprieve, who said, "These gruesome new details show just how bad things are in Guantanamo. The whole thing is at breaking point. Clearly the US military is under enormous pressure and doing everything it can to hurt the men and break the hunger strike."
_________________________
Aamer, among the over 100 inmates at the prison on hunger strike, detailed the escalating brutality officials at the prison are meting out in a effort to break the months-long hunger strike.
Techniques include making cells "freezing cold" to accentuate the discomfort of those on hunger strike and the introduction of "metal-tipped" feeding tubes, which Aamer said were forced into inmates' stomachs twice a day and caused detainees to vomit over themselves.
The 46-year-old from London tells of one detainee who was admitted to hospital 10 days ago after a nurse had pushed the tube into his lungs rather than his stomach, causing him later to cough up blood. Aamer also alleges that some nurses at Guantanamo Bay are refusing to wear their name tags in order to prevent detainees registering abuse complaints against staff.
The British resident, who has been cleared for release by both the Bush and Obama administrations, has spent over 11 years at the prison without trial.
Aamer's testimony was given to the Observer by Clive Stafford Smith, his U.S. attorney and the director of the UK-based Reprieve, who said, "These gruesome new details show just how bad things are in Guantanamo. The whole thing is at breaking point. Clearly the US military is under enormous pressure and doing everything it can to hurt the men and break the hunger strike."
_________________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.