In July last year, Reprieve lawyers received information that one military medical professional had refused to carry out force-feedings on the detainees who are participating in the peaceful hunger strike to protest their detention.
The nurse decided he could not force-feed Guantanamo detainees, saying “I have come to the decision that I refuse to participate in this criminal act.”
The US authorities were considering taking action against him, but today have finally dropped their case.
It took enormous courage for him to swim against the tide. And as someone who has watched the force-feeding videos, I am certain he did the right thing. If the tapes are ever made public, the American people will watch in horror at what we have asked this man, and many other young servicemen and women, to do. Cori Crider, Reprieve Director and attorney for Guantanamo detaineesThe Obama administration has argued that the public had no right to see the video tapes of force-feedings, but our lawyers continue to fight in the US courts to ensure that the truth about the abuse of prisoners in Guantánamo can be seen by the public.
