Over the last 16 years, the Government has attempted to suppress the truth about Guantánamo. In response, we have been working to bring the facts to the public. As it turns out, Guantánamo is not a prison full of the “worst of the worst,” but a prison full of mistakes.
Here, we bring you 7 facts that you may not know about America’s infamous illegal prison:
1. Most detainees were sold to the US for enormous bounties
The vast majority of detainees in Guantánamo (86%) were not captured by US forces. Instead the Government filled the prison with people they bought for bounties. The US flew planes over parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan offering $5,000 for any “suspicious person.” This amounted to approximately seven years’ average salary for most people in the area, encouraging them to turn over innocent men in exchange for a life-changing amount of money.
Since then, it has turned out they got it wrong most of the time. It didn’t even take long for those in charge to see their mistake– as early as 2002, Guantánamo’s operational commander complained that he was being sent too many “mickey mouse” detainees.
2. The Bush administration decided that the prisoners had no rights, and Reprieve was a big part of changing that
After the first prisoners arrived at Guantánamo in 2002, the Bush administration claimed that the Geneva Convention – the rules governing the treatment of prisoners of war – did not apply. As a result, the detainees were denied access to lawyers, and the right to challenge their detention. This was until Reprieve’s founder Clive Stafford Smith and two other lawyers successfully challenged President Bush in the Supreme Court. They won access to Guantánamo, opened it up and began representing the prisoners held there. Since then, we have gone on to secure the release of over 80 detainees – more than any other organization.
3. All the prisoners initially faced the death penalty
All the detainees in Guantánamo faced a death sentence. Clive Stafford Smith had spent 25 years defending people on death rows in America’s Deep South before turning to Guantánamo.
4. At least 15 children have been held in Guantánamo
One of the youngest detainees in Guantánamo was Mohammed El Gharani, who was just 14 years old when he was taken there. Despite being a child, Mohammed was tortured, including having his head slammed against the floor, and cigarettes stubbed out on his arm. Mohammed was held for a total of seven years without charge or trial, until Reprieve lawyers won a court order for his release in 2009.
5. More men have died in Guantánamo than have been convicted of a crime
In total, only 8 men held in Guantánamo have ever been convicted, and 4 of these convictions have since been reversed. But in total, 9 men have died in the prison without ever being charged with a crime.
6. Over 90% of Guantánamo detainees have been released without charge
730 men have been released without charge from Guantánamo, often after having endured years of suffering and abuse.
Now, 40 prisoners remain detained, including many who have not be charged or given a fair trial, and some who have been cleared for release. Many of these detainees have been subjected to horrifying torture and abuse.
7. Guantánamo is possibly the world’s most expensive prison
It costs the US taxpayer $445 million a year to keep the remaining 40 detainees held in Guantánamo. This means that it costs $29,000 per prisoner per night to keep Guantánamo open – far more than any federal prison.
