America, what was it worth in the end: The innocents of Guantanamo
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Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistani citizen now aged 75, has been set free from Guantanamo Bay-- a US military prison in Cuba-- and arrived in Karachi after 19 years. The release ends the horrific ordeal of an innocent person held on charges of being an Al-Qaeda sympathizer for nearly two decades.
Paracha was a resourceful businessman and a resident citizen of New York. He had been engaged in trade with foreign countries for years. Some members of his family are US citizens. He was accused of having links with Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden who reportedly met Paracha in connection with a business deal. An elaborate sting operation was organized to nab him in Thailand by the FBI in July 2003, where he was arrested and transferred to Bagram air base north of Kabul. After a year in custody he was shifted to the infamous Guantanamo detention center where he had to endure unbearable suffering years.
During the course of his long imprisonment, Saifullah Paracha was never formally charged and never produced before a court to determine his guilt or crime. He suffered three heart attacks during his detention. Finally when it was realized that further imprisonment would not yield any outcome, his release was approved in May, even though the President signed off on it last year.
The truth is, no one will ever be held to account for the crimes committed inside that detention center.
Rustam Shah
The world’s most notorious detention facility, Guantanamo, was set up in early 2002 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Over 780 suspected Al-Qaeda supporters were arrested from mainly Afghanistan and Pakistan and kept in confinement-- most without charge and trial. In Guantanamo’s parallel world, the mere accusation or presumption of guilt was enough to sustain long detention and excruciating torture for years.
Only about 40 inmates now remain in the notorious facility which has left deep scars on the conscience of humanity and will remain a stigma on the US criminal justice system for all time to come.
Many questions arise: Were those involved covertly or overtly in the September 11 attacks correctly identified and punished? And those, who were found innocent after losing years of their lives-- have they been compensated enough? Was any purpose served in the interests of national security, truly? Did the torture lead to any answers that safeguarded the sovereignty of the United States? Did US prestige increase following the detention of more than 780 ‘suspected supporters and sympathizers’ of terrorism? And finally: Will the world be a better place now that the facility may be close to closing after two decades? Will justice ever be served for the innocents-- many young men-- who waited endlessly for freedom?
The answer is no.
In many cases, what happened in that prison was the sheer display of brute American power exercised without any fear of accountability. They did it because they could, even though Guantanamo Bay was not compatible with the true foundations of American democracy and its justice system. It was in repudiation of the vision of the founding fathers of the country. It was in defiance of all norms of human rights so vociferously advocated from every forum by leaders of the United States.
The truth is, no one will ever be held to account for the crimes committed inside Guantanamo Bay detention center. This is a sad reflection on institutions and systems of governance even in this day and age. Hopefully, President Joe Biden will take further steps to close down the camp and bring an end to its sordid saga of human rights abuses practiced with no holds barred, on innocent Pakistani and Afghani victims-- among others-- who had no access to any court or tribunal.
- Rustam Shah Mohmand is a specialist of Afghanistan and Central Asian Affairs. He has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan and also held position of Chief Commissioner Refugees for a decade.
