In a recent development, a United Nations expert has called for the United States to apologize and provide reparation for the treatment of inmates at Guantanamo Bay, labeling it as cruel, inhuman, and degrading under international law. This call for justice has stirred up a global conversation on human rights and the responsibility of nations to uphold them.
Fionnuala Ni Aolain, the UN expert, emphasized the profound and ongoing suffering endured by the detainees, who have been held in custody for two decades. She pointed out the systematic practices of rendition, torture, and arbitrary detention that have led to unrelenting harm for every single detainee she met with during her visit to the detention facility in Cuba.
The Guantanamo Bay prison, established in 2002 by then-US President George W. Bush following the 9/11 attacks, once housed nearly 800 detainees. Today, it holds approximately 30 prisoners, with some eligible for transfer. The expert’s comments align with recent criticism from the Red Cross and another UN body, adding to the growing pressure on the US government to address this issue.
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President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to close the facility but has not yet presented a concrete plan. The expert urged the US government to provide judicial resolution, apology, and guarantees of non-repetition, commending the access she was granted to the facility.
The expert’s report, released on the UN’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, highlighted the need for accountability and thorough investigations into alleged violations. It also recommended rehabilitation for former detainees and addressing the situation of arbitrarily detained individuals in other countries.
The US government’s response to these allegations and recommendations has been mixed. While the Biden administration has acknowledged the report’s recommendations and asserted its commitment to providing safe and humane treatment, it has also expressed disagreement with many of the investigator’s assertions.
The call for an apology and reparation for Guantanamo Bay inmates is a significant step towards acknowledging and addressing human rights violations. It is now up to the US government to respond to this call for justice and take concrete steps towards resolution and non-repetition.
Source: malay mail
