Yesterday, global platforms witnessed a wide interaction on the 21st anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay, as activists, former detainees, and human rights activists expressed their opinions in the world's most famous prison, calling for its closure after it witnessed the torture of hundreds, and many human rights movements participated in recalling the crimes the prison witnessed.

Guantanamo Bay was opened during the reign of former US President George W. Bush in 2002 in the context of the war on "terrorism" after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the place was transformed from a military base into a detention center and a field for exceptional military courts and a scene of torture and horror arts, and this was accompanied by campaigns and calls to demand close it.

America opened Guantanamo Bay in 2002 (European)

A reprehensible prison

Former US President Barack Obama said about it that it is a prison that "the world deplores, that terrorists use for recruitment and that drains American resources," while Germany said that the prisoner's shame extends to its reputation.

On the anniversary of its opening, Amnesty International issued a statement, which it published on its official website, denouncing what America did in Guantanamo, and imprisoning hundreds without charge or trial, and describing what happened as an indelible shame in America's history.

The organization also called on US President Joe Biden to close the prison and release the remaining prisoners.

"#Guantánamo remains an indelible stain on the United States' history. More than two decades after its opening, President @JoeBiden must finally close this chapter and ensure it is never repeated," said @ErikaGuevaraR https://t.co/5o7iXu7HTk

— amnestypress (@amnestypress) January 10, 2023

A number of former detainees participated in highlighting the suffering experienced by the prisoners, and documented what they were subjected to during their years there, calling for the release of what remains and the closure of the prison permanently.

In this context, the former British detainee Moazzam Beck called on US President Biden to close the prison, whose inmates will suffer a new year of violations, and which will remain one of the most prominent symbols of the injustice of the United States, as he put it.

Few symbols of US injustice have lingered like #Guantanamo.

This week, the world's most infamous prison turns 21 and its inmates face another agonizing year of abuse.

As torture & false imprisonment come of age I remind @POTUS of our plan to shut it down https://t.co/xG4L7rbWGp

- Moazzam Begg (@Moazzam_Begg) January 11, 2023

Wounds and claims

The testimonies of the former detainees opened their old wounds, as their recall of what they suffered during the period of detention represented a double burden, the burden of which was increased by the survival of other detainees inside the notorious American prison.

Former Yemeni detainee Mansour Al-Saifi wrote, "I was 19 years old when I was sent there, lost, afraid and confused. I was tortured, and I never imagined spending 9 years in solitary confinement without legal representation or trial for 15 years."

He added, "I completed Guantanamo 21 years, and 35 men are still languishing there. For years, prisoners, activists, lawyers, journalists, and NGOs have tried to write the final chapter of this matter, a chapter that ends with justice, accountability, and reconciliation. It is time to close Guantanamo."

8/#Guantánamo turns 21 today & 35 men remain there.

For years, prisoners, activists, lawyers, journalists & NGOs have tried to write GMTO's final chapter, one that ends with justice, impeachment & reconciliation.

It's time to #CloseGuantanamo pic.twitter.com/J2c1MJddel

- Mansoor Adayfi 441 Mansour Al-Daifi (@MansoorAdayfi) January 11, 2023

The former Mauritanian detainee, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, published a picture of his car with traces of time on it, commenting on it, "This is how your car will look when you park it in front of the police station for interrogation and disappear for more than 15 years, 21 years of injustice, 21 years is more than enough."

Thousands also participated on social media platforms in denouncing America's human rights record, and many interacted with the hashtags "#Guantanamo" and "#closegitmo", calling for the immediate release of prisoners and holding America accountable for years of injustice and torture there.

This is how your car would look like when you parked it before the police station for questioning and you disappeared for more than 15 years.


21 years of injustice!


21 years is more than enough! #CloseGuantanamo @GuantanamoAndy @UK_CAGE pic.twitter.com/dApKpvoK7z

- Mohamedou O Slahi (Houbeini) Ould Slahi (@MohamedouOuld) January 11, 2023

A reminder of tragedies

A number of activists organized an electronic movement, the day before yesterday, Wednesday, to recall the tragedies of Guantanamo and to demand its closure. Thousands participated in it with their tweets and artwork that documented the crime. Activists also participated in a protest in front of the US embassy in Mexico.

21 years since Guantanamo Bay was opened by George Bush.

Over 700 detainees held without charge & trial.

Tortured, dehumanised & away from family for years.

35 still remain.

Join @UK_CAGE Twitter Storm to raise awareness.

Below are some previous tweets on Gitmo.#CloseGitmo

- Abdul Hamid Faruki (@TjpAbdul) January 11, 2023

America had opened Guantanamo Bay in 2002, and since that day hundreds of people have been transferred there, most of them Muslims under the pretext of war on “terrorism”, and it is still open until now, and not all prisoners have been released, although no real charges have been brought against the majority of those who went there. .

It is noteworthy that on January 11, 2002, the first detainees from Pakistan and Afghanistan arrived at Guantanamo, and to avoid human rights criticism and to block the way for granting any rights to these, the administration of former US President George W. to the country's constitution.

Guantanamo prison has held a total of 780 detainees since its opening, and later, with the escalation of the wave of criticism, the US Department of Defense carried out sporadic deportations of detainees around the world.