The human rights group Amnesty International USA has issued a call for members and affliates to take action to push for the shut-down of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. The email message to members reads:

Five years ago the U.S. began detaining people at Guantánamo Bay without charges . . . without trial . . . without legal recourse . . . and without hope. The interrogation regime there led to many allegations of torture and ill-treatment. Five years later, despite widespread international condemnation, hundreds of people of more than 30 nationalities remain there. 

Many like Murat Kurnaz, only 20 when detained, were released without charge after years of harsh and cruel detention. Some were as young as 13 when detained.  The overwhelming majority have been held only on suspicion, guilty until proven innocent.

Amnesty International has asked that concerned individuals “speak out against the lawlessness at Guantánamo Bay and the policies behind it.” and ”take action by telling the President to shut down Guantánamo Bay.“  One can also sign the ‘America I Believe In’ pledge, about which Suha Dabbouseh, Project Manager for AI’s Denounce Torture Initiative has said:

Every day that the Guantánamo Bay detention facilities remain open is another day when the United States of America broadcasts to the world its utter lack of respect for the most basic human rights principles.

Amnesty International was the first to call for the closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo, please add your voice to the emerging consensus and end this shameful chapter in the name of fighting the “war on terror”.  Because the America I believe in would close Guantanamo Bay.

- Peter Broady

Peter Broady is a regular guy from Wasilla, Alaska, who reads and writes when he gets the chance.  He can be contacted at pbroady@gmail.com or at his current website, http://internationalnv.blogspot.com/