While loud demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen have captured worldwide attention, quieter protests have gone on for the past two weeks at Guantánamo Bay.

 

Inspired by the movements in North Africa and the Middle East, and to mark the ninth anniversary of the opening of the prison, Guantánamo detainees housed in two wings of the prison, Camps 5 and 6, have held peaceful sit-ins to complain about their indefinite detention without trial by the U.S. government. The protests have consisted of men remaining in the recreation yard and common areas, even sleeping there, instead of returning to their cells for the mandatory lockdown at night.

 

Detainees have made signs that read: “Where are the Courts?”, “What About our Rights?”, and “Where is Democracy?” Some men managed to make their signs in English, having learned the language during their long imprisonment.

 

Currently, there are 173 detainees being held at Guantánamo.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Guantánamo Prisoners Organize Peaceful Sit In to Protest Indefinite Imprisonment and Conditions (Center for Constitutional Rights)

Guantanamo Detainees Stage Peaceful Protests Daily (Agence France-Presse)