2022-01-11 17:24:22

Meet the Muslim Army Chaplain Who Condemned Torture of Guantánamo Prisoners & Then Jailed Himself

Twenty years ago today, the U.S. military began imprisoning Muslim men at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.

Democracy Now! spoke with the prison's former Muslim chaplain, James Yee, who was jailed and held in solitary confinement for 76 days after being falsely accused of espionage. All charges were eventually dropped, and he received an honorable discharge.

Yee describes how boys as young as 12 to 15 years old were treated as enemy combatants on the prison complex and the widespread Islamophobia that put even Muslim Americans under heavy surveillance. "During my time I was there, it was clear that these individuals were not in any way associated with terrorism whatsoever," says Yee.

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

On DN!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.

Missed an episode?  Check out DN on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

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#democracynow Amy Goodman Cuba Democracy Now! Guantánamo Bay Islamophobia James Yee Juan Gonzalez U.S. Military

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