Two decades on, 39 still held at the notorious detention centre Toffiq al-Bihani’s case highlighted - tortured and held without charge since 2003 ‘The detention facility has been allowed to stay open for far too long’ - Daphne Eviatar Responding to the US authorities’ transfer of the first detainee out of Guantánamo Bay under the administration of President Joe Biden, Daphne Eviatar, Director of the Amnesty International USA’s Security With Human Rights programme, said: “The Biden administration’s first transfer out of Guantánamo is a welcome step. “Now we need to see the remaining ten

Two contract psychologists to testify at Guantánamo for first time James E Mitchell and John ‘Bruce’ Jessen responsible for waterboarding, confinement in small boxes, beatings and sleep deprivation Amnesty expert to attend Monday’s hearing - available for interview The two psychologists responsible for designing and implementing the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation techniques” will testify in pre-trial hearings at Guantánamo Bay next week. The two contract psychologists, James E Mitchell and John “Bruce” Jessen, were responsible for developing the CIA’s infamous “enhanced interrogation techniques

40 detainees still held at notorious military prison opened 17 years ago The military prison at Guantánamo Bay remains a stain on the human rights record of the United States and a location for ongoing human rights violations, said Amnesty International ahead of the 17-year anniversary of its opening on 11 January 2002. The US naval prison at Guantánamo in Cuba currently holds 40 Muslim men, many of whom have been tortured - while many of the detainees have been cleared for transfer for years. Among these is Toffiq al-Bihani, who was tortured by the CIA before he was sent to Guantánamo in 2003

Reacting to news that U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has provided the White House updated guidance on criteria for transferring new individuals to the Guantánamo Bay detention center in Cuba, Daphne Eviatar, Director of Security with Human Rights at Amnesty International USA, stated: “Although so far the new policy is secret, the US government’s statement suggests it will allow new detainees to be transferred to Guantánamo. Given the history of torture, unlawful detention and complete lack of justice provided there, no new detainees should ever be transferred to Guantánamo. The prison

'Eight years ago, President Obama began his presidency by pledging to close the detention camp at Guantánamo Bay. He should end his presidency by fulfilling that promise.' 

Margaret Huang, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA 

Immediately after his election as president in 2009, Barack Obama promised that he would close the camp within one year. 

Seven years on, the notorious detention centre remains open.