Mohammed Jawads historie.

Den kanskje viktigste rettigheten som fangene på Guantanamo har manglet har vært retten til å prøve validiteten av deres forvaring med juridisk representasjon foran en dommer, habeas corpus. Men 12. juni i fjor avgjorde USAs høyesterett i saken Boumediene mot Bush at alle USAs fanger, også de som blir holdt utenfor landets grenser slik som på Guantanamo, har rett til å få vurdert gyldigheten av deres forvaring.

Det er mange tragiske historier å fortelle fra Guantanamo, og de kommer til å bli fortalt, i bøker og på film. Men noen ganger kan et tørt juridisk dokument være alt som skal til for å formidle en sterk historie. Her er Afghaneren Mohammed Jawad sin historie, i form av en anmodning om Habeas Corpus. Han var 15 år da han ble arrestert i Afghanistan, mistenkt for å ha kastet en granat mot amerikanske soldater og han har nå vært på Guantanamo i 6 år. Om du ikke gidder å lese hele, så les i hvert fall avsnittene 15 – 54. Her er et lite utdrag:

"Mohammed was subjected to cruel, intimidating and abusive treatment in
the custody of the Afghan authorities, including being struck on the bridge of his nose
and being subjected to threats. Specifically, Mohammed was told that he would be killed
if he did not confess to the grenade attack. He was also told that his family members
would be arrested and killed if he did not confess. Both the police and the other highlevel
officials conducting the interrogation were armed, and Mohammed had a credible
fear that they were capable of carrying out their threats. During the interrogation,
Mohammed allegedly made incriminating statements and a document, purporting to be a
confession, was prepared for him to “sign” with his thumbprint."

Og ett til:

"While in the custody of U.S. Forces at Bagram for approximately 49 days,
Mohammed was also subjected to severe abuse, maltreatment, and torture. U.S.
personnel subjected Mohammed to beatings, forced him into so-called “stress positions,”
forcibly hooded him, placed him in physical and linguistic isolation, pushed him down
stairs, chained him to a wall for prolonged periods, and subjected him to threats,
including threats to kill him, and other intimidation."

Kan noen være i tvil om at de som ga ordre om slike handlinger bør holdes ansvarlig?