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U.S. Exclusive: Moazzam Begg Describes Abuse at Bagram and
Guantanamo and Witnessing the Killing of Two Fellow Detainees
British Human Rights Lawyer Gareth Peirce and "Enemy
Combatant" Co-Author Victoria Brittain Blast U.S.-Run
Prison at Guantanamo Bay
In Historic Move, Feingold Introduces Resolution to Censure
President Bush
Over 100,000 March in Chicago to Protest Immigration Reform
Bill in One of Biggest Pro-Immigrant Rallies in U.S. History
U.S. Exclusive: Moazzam Begg Describes Abuse at Bagram
and Guantanamo and Witnessing the Killing of Two Fellow Detainees
In a Democracy Now! U.S. national broadcast exclusive, we
hear former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg in his own words.
He was imprisoned for three years without charge by the United
States at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan and Guanatanmo Bay
in Cuba. We broadcast his first comments in this country since
the publication of his book in Britain, "Enemy Combatant:
A British Muslim's Journey to Guantanamo and Back." [includes
rush
transcript]
The Associated Press yesterday sued the Defense Department
for the release of records identifying all past and current
detainees at the US-run prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The AP's suit was filed after the Pentagon failed to respond
to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the AP in
January. Last month, the military was ordered to turn over
uncensored copies of transcripts from hearings for detainees
held at Guantanamo. The transcripts were released, however
they were censored, and names and other key details were blacked
out.
As international calls grow for the closure of the US-run
prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, today we bring you a
voice rarely heard in the US media, that of a former Guantanamo
prisoner. In a Democracy Now broadcast exclusive, today we
hear Moazzam Begg in his own words.
Moazzam is a British citizen born and raised in Birmingham.
The story of his ordeal begins in mid-2001 when he moved to
Afghanistan with his wife and three young children to work
as an aid worker in education and water projects. After September
11th and the subsequent U.S. bombing of Afghanistan, he relocated
to Pakistan.
In February 2002, Moazzam was seized by the CIA in Islamabad.
No reasons were given for his arrest. He was hooded, shackled
and cuffed and flown to the U.S. detention facility at Kandahar,
then to Bagram airbase where he was held for approximately
a year before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay. The U.S.
government labeled him an "enemy combatant." He
was never charged with a crime.
In all, Moazzam spent three years in prison, much of it in
solitary confinement. He was subjected to over three hundred
interrogations as well as death threats and torture. At Bagram,
he witnessed the killing of two fellow detainees.
In January 2005, he was finally released from Guantanamo
along with three other British citizens. He received no apology
or compensation for his imprisonment.
Moazzam Begg has written a book about his experience that
has just been published in the UK titled "Enemy Combatant:
A British Muslim's Journey to Guantanamo and Back." It
is the first book known to be published by a former Guantanamo
Bay prisoner. The book is co-written by Victoria Brittain,
a former associate foreign editor of the Guardian newspaper.
Last week, Victoria Brittain and Moazzam Begg held a public
conversation and Q&A at the Institute of Contemporary
Arts in central London. Democracy Now was there to cover the
story. In this U.S. national broadcast exclusive, we bring
you Moazzam's first comments to air in this country since
he wrote his book. At the event, I had the chance to ask Moazzam
about the abuse he suffered while in prison.
- Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo detainee and author of
the book, "Enemy Combatant: A British Muslim's Journey
to Guantanamo and Back"
British Human Rights Lawyer Gareth Peirce and "Enemy
Combatant" Co-Author Victoria Brittain Blast U.S.-Run
Prison at Guantanamo Bay
As we focus on the case of former Guantanamo Bay detainee
Moazzam Begg, we speak with Victoria Brittain, co-author of
his book, "Enemy Combatant: A British Muslim's Journey
to Guantanamo and Back" and leading British human rights
lawyer, Gareth Peirce about the U.S.-run prison camp. [includes
rush
transcript]
We continue looking at the case of former Guantanamo detainee
Moazzam Begg. Democracy Now! was in London last week where
we attended an event featuring Moazzam and Victoria Brittain
at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. After the public conversation
and Q&A, we had the chance to speak with Victoria Brittain.
She is a former associate foreign editor of the Guardian newspaper
and has worked on issues around Guantanamo Bay for years.
She co-wrote the play "Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend
Freedom" and, along with Moazzam Begg, helped write his
book "Enemy Combatant: A British Muslim's Journey to
Guantanamo and Back."
* Victoria Brittain, co-author of "Enemy Combatant:
A British Muslim's Journey to Guantanamo and Back" and
a former associate foreign editor of the Guardian newspaper
in London.
Also at the event last week in London was British attorney
Gareth Peirce. She represents Moazzam Begg as well as the
three other British citizens released from Guantanamo known
as the "Tipton Three". Peirce is one of the leading
human rights lawyers in Britian. She represented the Birmingham
Six and Guilford Four. Actress Emma Thompson played her character
in the movie "In the Name of the Father." I asked
Gareth Peirce about recent comments made by British Prime
Minister Tony Blair, calling Guantanamo Bay a "anomaly."
- Gareth Peirce, attorney for Maozzam Begg and one of the
leading human rights attorneys in Britain.
In Historic Move, Feingold Introduces Resolution
to Censure President Bush
On Monday, Democratic Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
introduced a resolution to censure President Bush for authorizing
the no-warrant domestic surveillance program. Feingold accused
Bush of breaking the law and misleading Congress about it.
We play Feingold introducing the resolution as well as reaction
from Republican and Democratic senators on the Senate floor.
[includes rush
transcript]
On Monday, Democratic Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
introduced a resolution to censure President Bush for authorizing
the no-warrant domestic surveillance program. Feingold accused
Bush of breaking the law and misleading Congress about it.
As Feingold spoke, Democratic leaders held off the immediate
vote that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist requested.
The Bush administration has argued Congress granted President
Bush the power to order U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct
domestic surveillance with the resolution authorizing military
action after 9/11. The Bush administration also says the president
has the authority as commander in chief of the military.
Before Feingold took to the floor Monday, Majority leader
Bill Frist spoke.
- Sen. Bill Frist (R - TN), Majority leader.
Soon after, Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold introduced his
resolution to censure President Bush:
- Sen. Russ Feingold (D - WI), introducing resolution to
censure President Bush.
After Feingold introduced his resolution to censure President
Bush, he immediately left the chambers. Republican Senator
Arlen Specter blasted Feingold for leaving and called the
resolution to censure "excessive," explaining that
"the President may be wrong, but he has not acted in
bad faith."
Following Specter's complaint that he had wanted to debate
Feingold, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois took
to the floor to fill in for Feingold and debate Specter.
- Sen. Dick Durbin (D - IL) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R -
PA)
Over 100,000 March in Chicago to Protest Immigration
Reform Bill in One of Biggest Pro-Immigrant Rallies in U.S.
History
Over 100,000 marchers took to the streets of Chicago last
Friday to fight a bill that would rewrite the nation's immigration
laws. The march marked one of the biggest pro-immigrant rallies
in U.S. history. We discuss the implications of the bill and
the demonstration with a member of one of the many organizations
that spearheaded the event. [includes rush
transcript]
The political debate over immigration reform continues to
heat up across the country following the recent passage of
a bill by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate will
debate the bill later this month.
Hundreds of thousands of marchers took to the streets of
Chicago last Friday to fight the bill that would drastically
strengthen immigration enforcement, including extending a
fence along the Mexican border and severe punishment for those
who aid undocumented workers.
The mostly Latino marchers crammed the streets carrying signs
saying for example "No human being is illegal" and
"we are not criminals." Critics say the Sensenbrenner
bill would turn millions of undocumented workers into felons
for crossing the border without permission
Police estimate 100,000 marchers participated, making it
one of the biggest pro-immigrant rallies in U.S. history,
according to national advocates. However organizers estimate
the numbers were as many as half a million and newspapers
reports varied in that range.
Last Tuesday thousands of immigrants rallied against the
bill outside the U.S. Capitol. More action is expected to
come across the country as the bill is debated in Congress.
Marchers in Chicago on Friday had the support of local politicians.
U.S. Democratic Congressman Luis Gutierrez said in a speech,
"This is our country, and this is where we will stay."
Democrat Governor Blagojevich addressed the crowd in Spanish,
saying, "You are not criminals, You are workers."
Longtime Mayor Richard Daley also pledged support.
- Abel Nunez, associate director of Centro Romero, a community-based
organization that serves the refugee immigrant population
on the northeast side of Chicago.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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