Detainees were not allowed to talk to each other, but we enjoyed looking at each other. The punishment for talking was hanging the detainee by his hands with the feet barely touching the ground.
Mohamedou Ould SlahiRead
Everything a detainee says is classified. Detainees cannot talk to you. They cannot talk to anyone. They cannot challenge, in a meaningful way, their detention. All that is left is for people who survived Guantanamo Bay to speak for people who are left behind, and speak for those who are in so many Guantanamos, plural, in my part of the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the silenced voices of detainees and the importance of speaking up for those unable to do so.
In this quote, Mohamedou Ould Slahi emphasizes the dire situation of detainees who are stripped of their voice and agency, particularly in places like Guantanamo Bay. He calls attention to the broader systemic issues faced by similar individuals worldwide, advocating for the necessity of those who have endured such experiences to share their stories and advocate for the marginalized who continue to suffer in silence.
Themes
DetaineesSilenced VoicesHuman RightsGuantanamo BayAdvocacy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech advocating for human rights reforms.
More from Mohamedou Ould Slahi
All quotes →I have never felt as violated in myself as I had since the DoD team started to torture me to get me admit to things I haven't done.
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