Al-Jazeera: Gitmo prisoner calls network by phone

[Fade]

Al-Jazeera: Gitmo prisoner calls network by phone
Apr 15 07:46 AM US/Eastern

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A Guantanamo detainee phoned a Middle Eastern TV network to say he was severely beaten for refusing to leave his cell, giving the first media interview with someone held at the U.S. prison in Cuba.

Mohammed el Gharani, a 21-year-old from Chad, told Al-Jazeera that guards beat him with batons and sprayed him with tear gas, according to the network. The comments were published on its Web site Tuesday.

The U.S. has never allowed journalists to interview Guantanamo prisoners and Al-Jazeera did not say how it managed to speak with el Gharani.

A spokesman for the prison, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, told The Miami Herald that el Gharani apparently used one of his weekly phone calls to his family to speak to the reporter. The spokesman also said there was no evidence to substantiate the abuse claims.Article continued at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97ITE8G0&show_article=1&catnum=2

[eskachig]

From watching shows about prison life that's basically what happens when someone refuses to leave the cell - the guards put on tactical gear and storm the room.

[Cstafford]

Isnt that what they usually do to prisoners who refuse to do something?

[Kit]

You were captured by the Americans in a warzone. What do you expect? Afternoon tea and mints on your pillow? There are some nations out there that might just beat you to death on the spot.

As far as I can tell, treatment of the terrorists in prison is comparable to the treatment of American citizens in prison.

[willytee]

You were captured by the Americans in a warzone. What do you expect? Afternoon tea and mints on your pillow? There are some nations out there that might just beat you to death on the spot.

As far as I can tell, treatment of the terrorists in prison is comparable to the treatment of American citizens in prison.

I really do agree with you here. Imagine if an American was captured by these people. He probably wouldnt even make it to a holding cell let alone be beat if he refused. Much worse would happen in this senario.

Plus whos to say that the guy isnt just BS'ing and saying he was beat to make the world sympathetic to him and put more pressure on the new soft government.

[Lau]

You were captured by the Americans in a warzone. What do you expect? Afternoon tea and mints on your pillow? There are some nations out there that might just beat you to death on the spot.

As far as I can tell, treatment of the terrorists in prison is comparable to the treatment of American citizens in prison.

Problem is, some of them are potentially innocent, we both know that, since they have had no trial, they are innocent until proven guilty. Unless western laws only apply for westerners?

I'm getting really sick of this whole 'Gitmo' thing, the western world had a good thing going with justice and 'stuff', I hate to see it ruined.


I really do agree with you here. Imagine if an American was captured by these people. He probably wouldnt even make it to a holding cell let alone be beat if he refused. Much worse would happen in this senario.


You want us to behead people as well, they do it you know... Let's not do what they do, and let's not justify what we do, by saying what they do is much worse.

[Jobu]

Problem is, some of them are potentially innocent

Innocent of what?

[Lau]

Innocent of what?

Of being terrorists?

Illegal combatants, members of the Taliban or Al qaeda, Supporting Al Qaeda or the Taliban.... and so on and so forth.. ;)

My point is, they have not been proven guilty. If an officer of the law arrests you, the prosecutor must prove your guilt, if he can't, then you didn't do it. Those simple civilized rules should apply whenever we take prisoners.

[62ECHO]

Isnt that what they usually do to prisoners who refuse to do something?

No diferent from what an extraction team would do to one of our citizens in prison for refusing to exit a cell :)

[willytee]

You want us to behead people as well, they do it you know... Let's not do what they do, and let's not justify what we do, by saying what they do is much worse.

Or we could do what they do and see what kinda uproar the world would have. My point was what ever is going on at "Gitmo" is far less worse than how prisoners in other countries are treated.

[budgie]

Innocent of what?

Guilty until proven innocent? As dispicable as the taliban may seem some members are unfortunately guilty of nothing more than fighting for the wrong side. From the start no effort was made to discern regular Afghan fighters from the hardened AQ terrorists. Some of teh detainees were snatche in dirfferent countries entirely and spirited away without trial. the legal process is finally underway, but its too little too late.

[Jobu]

My point is, they have not been proven guilty. If an officer of the law arrests you, the prosecutor must prove your guilt, if he can't, then you didn't do it. Those simple civilized rules should apply whenever we take prisoners.



Officer of the law?

Is this a war or a lawsuit?

[Sufficient]

Officer of the law?

Is this a war or a lawsuit?

You do realize that there are laws covering warfare as well?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_war

[LazerLordz]

You were captured by the Americans in a warzone. What do you expect? Afternoon tea and mints on your pillow? There are some nations out there that might just beat you to death on the spot.

As far as I can tell, treatment of the terrorists in prison is comparable to the treatment of American citizens in prison.

Which is already cheese and cookies compared to any Asian nation if they were caught in related activities.

[LineDoggie]

You do realize that there are laws covering warfare as well?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_war


Does the Taliban follow them?

Does al-Qeada follow them?

It's all well and good Holding up the Lofty standard with a unicorn and singing Kumbaya, but the reality is any Western Soldier Captured by these Groups gets a One Way ticket to Real Torture, Real Mutiliation, Real Beheading.



When US Treatment gets to that level people can then Whine about Gitmo, Until then they can **** off about Torture

[commanding]

a good book about Gitmo detention center is:

Inside Gitmo: The True Story Behind the Myths of Guantanamo Bay
by :Gordon Cucullu

link:
http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Gitmo-Story-Behind-Guantanamo/dp/006176230X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239904718&sr=1-1

really a good book....