LEWES Amnesty Campaigners were joined by other Amnesty campaigners from the South East on Saturday 6^th November to protest against the continued detention of 39 men in Guantanamo (some of whom are being held without charge or trial). Members of the Brighton and Hove and Haywards Heath Amnesty groups were amongst those who headed to Lewes to join the protest.

Wearing orange jumpsuits, the campaigners held a silent vigil for one hour whilst holding photos of each of the men who are still detained. They were keen to raise awareness about the continued operation of the illegal detention centre where dozens of men continue to languish without ever having been charged or faced a trial. Being held without charge or trial is outside the rule of law and is a practice which has no place in a modern democracy and is unreservedly condemned by the United Nations.

Many of those passing by the vigil were shocked to learn that Guantánamo was still open and several people joined the vigil on the spot – some even putting on orange jumpsuits to join those already taking action.

The campaigners also wanted to show the detainees, all of whom have not seen their family members during their detention, that they have not been forgotten. At a recent cinema screening of ‘The Mauritanian’ at Lewes Depot Mohamedou Ould Slahi (who was detained for fourteen years without charge or trial before being unconditionally released) explained how important it is for those still detained to feel that the outside world are still aware of their cruel and unjust plight.

Mohamedou Ould Slahi will be one of the keynote speakers to open an international on-line conference on Guantánamo being hosted by the University of Brighton on Friday 12^th and Saturday 13^th November. The conference, which has attracted a wide range of expert participants from around the world, including lawyers who are representing those still detained in Guantánamo. To register for the conference please visit the University of Brighton online shop.

Sara Birch, one of the organisers of the vigil, said, “It is likely that the detainees will become aware of this action and so by taking this action at the very least we will show these men that they have not been forgotten by the outside world. Amnesty International aims to shine a light on the darkness whenever and wherever human rights violations are taking place and this is what we were aiming to do last Saturday on behalf of those men still detained in Guantanamo”.

by Sara Birch

The University of Brighton’s screening of The Mauritanian, supported by the Lewes Amnesty International and University of Brighton Amnesty International groups, took place at the Lewes Depot on Tuesday 2nd November. 

The film, The Mauritanian, directed by Kevin Macdonald, depicts the story of ex Guantanamo detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi and is based on his memoirs, Guantanamo Diary. It tells the story of his unlawful detention and experiences of torture whilst at Guantanamo. 

The screening was followed by an interesting and informative Q&A with the director Kevin Macdonald, ex detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi and his lawyer Nancy Hollander, as well as Andy Worthington, investigative journalist and activist with expertise on the Guantanamo detention camp. 

Through the telling of Mohamedou’s experience, the film seeks to raise awareness of the continued existence of the Guantanamo detention camp, the treatment of detainees, their continued detention and the obstacles the remaining detainees face for justice. This is particularly important in the lead up to Guantanamo Bay detention camp’s  20th anniversary and the efforts being made by activists to close the detention camp. 

As with other films impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, The Mauritanian has not reached the audience it would ordinarily have, had cinemas been open, despite the stellar cast and the excellent job it does telling the personal story of a man unlawfully detained and tortured. This is a real shame as Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s story as told in The Mauritanian is one more weapon that could be used to raise awareness about the ongoing existence of Guantanamo Bay, detainees still being held there without charge or trial, and the inhuman treatment the detainees have suffered. 

The Mauritanian is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. Click here to watch a trailer. (Parts of the movie, in particular scenes depicting torture, may be difficult to watch for some viewers.)

To read about Andy Worthington’s work on Guantanamo Bay’s detention camp, visit his website, Andy Worthington.

Nancy Hollander, Andy Worthington and Mohamedou Ould Slahi himself will be present at the University of Brighton’s virtual conference ‘Guantanamo: 20 Years After’ on the 12th and 13th November. Tickets for the conference can be bought on this page.