Stalags - Holocaust and Pornography in Israel
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Declaration of Gitanjali S. Gutierrez, Esq., Lawyer for Mohammed al Qahtani
The U.S. military transferred Mohammed al Qahtani to Guantánamo in January 2002. At some point in early September 2002, military intelligence personnel at Guantánamo began planning a new, more aggressive interrogation regime for Mr. al Qahtani. Major General Michael Dunlavey, the Commander of the Guantánamo detention center, sent a request up the chain of command on October 11, 2002 for approval for an interrogation plan for Mr. al Qahtani that included 19 techniques outside the traditional guidelines for military interrogations.
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The interrogation log explicitly documents several instances where Mohammad al Qahtani is subjected to sexual humiliation techniques:
1. There are at least ten separate instances when the interrogation log reports that interrogators used a technique labeled “invasion of space by a female” or that Mr. al Qahtani is repulsed, angered or otherwise bothered by a female interrogator invading his personal space. The details of what this involved are generally lacking.6 “Invasion of Space by a Female” is used to describe a number of tactics, from a female interrogator straddling Mr. al Qahtani and molesting him while other military guards pin his body to the floor against his will to a female interrogator rubbing his neck and hair, often until Mr. al Qahtani resists with force and is subdued by military guards.
2. There are documented instances of forced nudity7 and also
3. “Dance instruction.”
a. In one incident, a mask was placed on Mr. al Qahtani and he was forced to undergo “dance instruction” with a male interrogator.8
b. In another incident, he was forced to wear a towel “like a burqa” and undergo “dance instruction” with a male interrogator.9
4. The interrogators made sexual insults and sexually offensive comments about Mr. al Qahtani and about his female family members, specifically his mother and sisters...10
5. Mr. al Qahtani was forced to either wear11 or to look at and study12 pornographic pictures. Interrogators required him to memorize details of the pornographic pictures and answer questions as a means to “test” his willingness to cooperate and to end other abusive interrogation practices. In addition to explicit sexual and religious humiliation, other aspects of Mr. al Qahtani’s treatment and detention were also morally humiliating and a denial of his human dignity. This included forcing him to urinate in front of U.S. personnel in either a bottle or in his pants while in restraints13 and then subsequently denying him the opportunity to clean himself. Military authorities also deprived him of privacy in his living conditions, specifically during showers when both female and male personnel were present.14 On at least one occasion during an interrogation, he was also stripped and forcibly given an enema while military police restrained him in the presence of multiple U.S. personnel. He was also subjected to the following treatment: “On 20 Dec 02, an interrogator tied a leash to the subject of the first Special Interrogation Plan’s chains, led him around the room, and forced him to perform a series of dog tricks.”15
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Footnotes:
6 (1) 12/04/02 at 1800 “The detainee was bothered by the presence and touch of a female.”; (2) 12/05/02 at
1800 “Detainee became irritated with the female invading his personal space.”; (3) 12/06/02 at 1930 “The
approaches employed [included] Invasion of Space by a Female.”; (4) 12/09/02 at 2340 “Detainee was
repulsed by the female invasion of his personal space.”; (5) 12/10/02 at 1830 “Detainee became very
annoyed with the female invading his personal space.”; (6a) 12/12/02 at 1830 “SGT L started “invasion of
personal space” approach.”; (6b) 12/12/02 at 2312 “The detainee is still annoyed with the female invasion
of space.”; (7) 12/19/02 at 2320 “He attempts to resist female contact.”; (8) 12/21/02 at 2223 “He was laid
out on the floor so I straddled him without putting my weight on him.”; (9) 12/23/02 at 2245 “Female
interrogator used invasion of personal space and detainee cried out to Allah several times.”; (10) 12/25/02
at 1929 “Detainee spoke in English when the female interrogator invaded his personal space.”
7 See, e.g., 12/20/02 at 2200 “The detainee was stripped searched. Initially he was attempting to resist the
guards. After approximately five minutes of nudity the detainee ceased to resist. He would only stare at the
wall with GREAT focus. His eyes were squinted and stuck on one point on the wall directly in front of him.
He later stated that he knew there was nothing he could do with so many guards around him, so why should
he resist. He stated that he did not like the females viewing his naked body while being searched and if felt
he could have done something about it then he would have.”
8 12/12/03 at 1115 “In order to escalate the detainee’s emotions, a mask was made from an MRE box with a
smiley face on it and placed on the detainee’s head for a few moments. A latex glove was inflated and
labeled the “sissy slap” glove. This glove was touched to the detainee’s face periodically after explaining
the terminology to him. The mask was placed back on the detainee’s head. While wearing the mask, the
team began dance instruction with the detainee. The detainee became agitated and began shouting.”
9 12/20/02 at 1300 “A towel was placed on the detainee’s head like a burka with his face exposed and the
interrogator proceeded to give the detainee dance lessons. The detainee became agitated and tried to kick an
MP. No retaliation was used for the kick and the dance lesson continued.”
10 12/17/02 at 2100 “Detainee appeared to have been disturbed by the word homosexual. He did not appear
to appreciate being called a homosexual. He denies being a homosexual. He also appeared to be very
annoyed by the use of his mother and sister as examples of prostitutes and whores.”
11 (1) 12/19/02 at 0200“While walking out, detainee pulled a picture of a model off (it had been fashioned
into a sign to hang around his neck)…”; (2) 12/23/02 at 0001 “Upon entering booth, lead changed white
noise music and hung pictures of swimsuit models around his neck. Detainee was left in booth listening to
white noise.”; (3) 12/24/02 at 0001 “Control entered booth, changed music playing, and hung binder of
fitness models around detainee’s neck.”; (4) 12/26/02 at 0001 “Detainee was eating his food (given by the
previous team). Lead walked into booth turned on white noise and put picture binder of swimsuit models
over detainees neck.”12 (1) 12/17/02 at 2200 “He appeared disgusted by the photos of UBL and a variety of
sexy females.
Detainee would avoid looking at all of the photos shown to him.”; (2) 12/19/02 at 0300 “Interrogators had
detainee look at pictures of women in bikinis and identify if the women were the same or different.
Detainee refused to look at girls and began struggling. A few drops of water were sprinkled on his head to
gain compliance.”; (3) 12/20/02 at 0001 “Detainee listened to white noise while interrogators added photos
of fitness models to a binder. Once completed, the interrogators began showing the photos and asking the
detainee detailed questions about the photos.”; (4) 12/21/02 at 0001 “New interrogation shift enters the
booth and begins “attention to detail” approach. Detainee looks at photos of fitness models and answers
questions about the photos.”; (5) 12/22/02 at 0030 “Lead began the “attention to detail” theme with the
fitness model photos. Detainee refused to look at photos claiming it was against his religion. Lead poured a
24 oz bottle of water over detainee’s head. Detainee then began to look at photos.”; (6) 12/23/02 “The
“attention to detail” approach began. Lead pulled pictures of swimsuit models off detainee and told him the
test of his ability to answer questions would begin. Detainee refused to answer and finally stated that he
would after lead poured water over detainees head and was told he would be subjected to this treatment day
after day.”; (7) 12/24/02 at 0200 “Control entered the booth and began the “attention to detail” lesson for
the night. The detainee still would not accurately answer questions about the fitness models and control
stated that the lesson would continue the next day.”; (8) 12/26/02 at 0030 “Lead entered the booth and
began attention to detail approach. Detainee missed 3 of 10 questions. He has learned to provide more
details and provides enough information to substantiate his answers.”; (9) 12/27/02 at 0100 “Detainee was
taken to bathroom and walked 10 minutes. The “attention to detail” theme was run with the fitness model
photos.”
13 “Detainee again said he has to go to bathroom. SGT R said he can go in the bottle. Detainee said he
wanted to go to the bathroom because it’s more comfortable. SGT R said “You’ve ruined all trust, you can
either go in the bottle or in your pants.” Detainee goes in his pants.” (11/25/2002 at 1000).
14 12/21/02 at 1630 “Detainee given shower, brushed teeth, and given new uniform. The detainee was very
shy and asked several times to cover himself with his trousers or a towel while in the shower.”
15 Schmidt Report. This is documented in the interrogation log as follows: “Told detainee that a dog is held
in higher esteem because dogs know right from wrong and know to protect innocent people from bad
people. Began teaching the detainee lessons such as stay, come, and bark to elevate his social status up to
that of a dog. Detainee became very agitated.” Then: “Dog tricks continued and detainee stated he should
be treated like a man. Detainee was told he would have to learn who to defend and who to attack.
Interrogator showed photos of 9-11 victims and told detainee he should bark happy for these people.
Interrogator also showed photos of Al Qaida terrorists and told detainee he should growl at these
people.” (12/20/02 at 1115, 1300)
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