Torture unashamedly on display in #Russia . A warning to the public? In the words of ⁦Center for Victims of Torture’s ⁦Scott Roehm:⁩ “Torturers don’t spend a lot of time thinking through the various consequences of their actions.”🇷🇺 nytimes.com/2024/03/26/wor…

Read this important piece by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, former UN Special Rapporteur on Counterterrorism and Human Rights and the only UN independent expert ever to meaningfully visit Guantanamo

22 years since the opening of the illegal camps at Guantanamo Bay.
In the decades-long story of Islamophobia in the name of security, Jan. 11, 2002 was a watershed moment in dehumanization, racism, and bastardization of constitutional and humanitarian law.

On the 22nd anniversary of Guantanamo's opening, Scott Roehm & I reflect on another year lost towards closing the most expensive and notorious detention center in the world, which houses Muslim survivors of US torture, only.

#CloseGuantanamo #GTMOat22

justsecurity.org/91153/another-…

Today the Guantanamo detention facility enters its 23rd(!) year of manifest injustice. Many thanks to Sacha Pfeiffer for having me on All Things Considered to discuss why Guantanamo is (needlessly) still open, and what it'll take for President Biden to close it.
npr.org/2024/01/09/122…

Must-read piece from my outstanding colleagues in the Human Rights and Security Coalition ⬇️

I hoped to be able to applaud the United States for constructive engagement w/ UN Human Rights Committee. Instead, we got misinfo and avoidance during an ongoing crisis at Gitmo.
Department of Defense 🇺🇸 U.S. Department of Justice

Our summary below, with next recommended steps for the Committee.

While reviewing the US for compliance with the Int'l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Human Rights Committee asked important and direct Qs about #Guantanamo and post-9/11 US #torture . The US (non)responses left a lot to be desired. More from me and Alka Pradhan⁷ ⬇️

1. James Mitchell testified abt how CIA torture decisions were made in US.
2. Torture at Gitmo was under full effective control of USG; USG recognizes CAT application at GTMO.
3. I can easily make a prelim list of names/UFIs for prosecution within the hour. Lmk U.S. Department of Justice

For all of USG’s handwringing over 2+ decades about how difficult/complicated it is to close GTMO, Committee member Surlan (correctly) cuts right to the chase: “It can be solved by making a decision and implementing it.”

And then moments later...

Day 2 of the US ICCPR review in Geneva opens with the US delegation answering questions HRC members posed at the end of day 1. Nobody on the delegation addresses Marcia V. J. KRAN's Qs about GTMO, post-9/11 US torture, or US use of lethal force outside recognized armed conflict.

This is what we - and some Gitmo medical personnel including the former Chief Medical Officer - have demanded for years. Baluchi Guantanamo is deteriorating rapidly without appropriate medical care which the USG refuses to provide at Gitmo.

'Looking forward, not backwards' and all that.

Not a great look given all the US rhetoric about accountability for Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

Accountability for thee, not for me.

UN Human Rights Marcia V. J. KRAN In response, Department of Defense 🇺🇸 rep speaks on efforts to transfer cleared men from #Guantanamo & 'humane' treatment provided to those detained, despite UN experts saying conditions at GTMO are far from humane. Rep silent on efforts to hold US officials accountable for torture.

Responding to HRC member Marcia V. J. KRAN’s critical questions about accountability, remedy, and redress for post-9/11 US torture, US officials don’t just avoid direct answers, they don’t once use any of the words accountability, remedy, redress or torture.

Thank you Marcia V. J. KRAN for raising these important issues, and for asking the US directly whether / how it will fulfill its ICCPR obligations to seek accountability for torture, and to ensure that victims receive an effective remedy.

Today in Geneva, I had the opportunity to address the UN Human Rights Committee about Baluchi Guantanamo and the medical crisis at Guantanamo. My remarks are below:

Current sitch: In Geneva quizzing U.S. Mission Geneva on Guantanamo issues with Scott Roehm

As I explained recently/briefly Just Security, evidence of GTMO's medical care crisis comes from sources as diverse as independent medical experts, GTMO commanders & chief medical officer, the UN, NGOs, detainees’ medical records, Fed Cts, and the ICRC.
justsecurity.org/87093/takeaway…