Title: Guantánamo Diary
Author: Mohamedou Ould Slahi
First published January 20, 2015
379 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316328685 (ISBN10: 0316328685)
Rating: 4.09
Overview
Experience the heart-wrenching journey of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, the only still-imprisoned Guantánamo Bay detainee. For almost two decades, Slahi has been held captive at the detention camp without any charges against him.
Despite a federal judge ordering his release in 2010, the United States government has relentlessly fought against it. In his diary, Slahi recounts his life before he was taken into custody and the endless cycle of imprisonment and interrogation he endures daily.
His diary is a deeply personal memoir that is both terrifying and darkly humorous. It is also a vivid record of the injustice he has been subjected to.
This book is a document of immense historical significance and a riveting read that will leave you shocked and moved.
About the Author
Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a citizen of Mauritania, has been held in detention at Guantánamo Bay since August 4th, 2002. In 2005, he penned a nonfiction book entitled Guantánamo Diary, which was eventually published a decade later.
Editoral Review
Guantánamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi is a powerful and deeply moving memoir that sheds light on one man’s harrowing experience of being detained at the infamous detention center in Cuba. First published on January 20, 2015, Guantánamo Diary is a work of non-fiction that is written in the form of a diary, chronicling Slahi’s experiences from his arrest in Mauritania in 2001 until his eventual release in 2016.
Mohamedou Ould Slahi is a former detainee of the United States government who was held at Guantánamo Bay for over a decade without charge or trial. His diary, which was written by hand during his detention, provides a unique perspective on the conditions and treatment of detainees at the facility.
Slahi’s writing is poignant and insightful, and his account of his time at Guantánamo is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of injustice and oppression.
Guantánamo Diary is a work that is both timely and important, given the ongoing debate over the use of torture and detention in the war on terror. Slahi’s account provides a first-hand perspective on the human cost of these policies, and his story is a powerful reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in government.
The book is divided into three parts, each of which covers a different period of Slahi’s detention. The first part covers his arrest and initial detention in Mauritania, while the second and third parts cover his transfer to Jordan and then to Guantánamo Bay.
Throughout the book, Slahi introduces us to a cast of characters that includes both fellow detainees and his captors, and he provides a vivid and often chilling portrait of life at the detention center.
One of the strengths of Guantánamo Diary is Slahi’s ability to convey the humanity of the people involved in his story. Despite the horrors that he experienced and witnessed, Slahi never loses his compassion or his sense of humor.
His writing is marked by a deep empathy for his fellow detainees, and his descriptions of their interactions are both poignant and heartbreaking.
At the same time, however, Guantánamo Diary is not without its flaws. The diary format can be somewhat disjointed, and there are times when Slahi’s writing is repetitive or overly detailed.
Additionally, some readers may find the book difficult to read due to the graphic descriptions of torture and abuse.
Despite these limitations, however, Guantánamo Diary is a powerful and important work that deserves to be read by anyone interested in the ongoing debate over human rights and government accountability. Slahi’s writing is both insightful and deeply moving, and his story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, Guantánamo Diary is a must-read book for anyone interested in the human cost of the war on terror. While it is not without its flaws, Slahi’s memoir is a powerful reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in government, and his writing is a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of injustice and oppression.
For its insights, its humanity, and its relevance to current events, Guantánamo Diary deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
