Secret images from inside Guantanamo Bay have been released by the Pentagon for the first time.
The never-before-seen images show scenes of men in shackles, blindfolds and ear protectors as they enter the infamous prison facility in the US. The images from 2002 have been obtained via a Freedom of Information request submitted by The New York Times.
In the images, some detainees are not only blindfolded but also appear to be wearing duct tape and are forcibly being carried into the prison. Other images show detainees kneeling away from officers in prison yards as well as in their cells whilst meals are delivered.
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In some images, prisoners in their trademark orange uniforms are being lifted by army officers as they enter the prison grounds. Reportedly, soldiers at the time found it easy to lift detainees due to many being malnourished and therefore losing weight quickly, the Daily Mail reports.
In other images, prisoners can be seen kneeling to pray using military issued mats as prayer rugs.
One image depicts a medical facility, with numerous prisoners lying in hospital beds whilst still wearing handcuffs.
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The New York Times also noted that these latest images are only the second time that images have been made available to the public. The first were leaked by WikiLeaks in 2011.
The photos were taken to give Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other leaders in Washington a look at the start of the wartime detention and interrogation.
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The pictures from 2002 depict many scenes at the controversial prison facility, and none of the detainees pictured have been named or formally identified.
Around 780 men and boys were brought to Guantanamo Bay under the presidency of President George W. Bush, who referred to the prisoners as ‘the worst of the worst’.
Only 18 of these prisoners were ever charged and only five have ever been convicted. Currently, 35 men remain at the prison with 10 awaiting trials to start. During President Barack Obama’s leadership, administrations lowered the amount of people detained although closure of the facility was blocked.
In 2021, Daily Mail reported that of those inmates left at Guantanamo there are 17 that are classed as ‘high-value’ and unlikely to be released. The remaining detainees are thought to pose little risk, with nine technically cleared to be safe to release.
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Niamh Spence