Former Guantánamo Prisoner: Ron DeSantis Watched My Torture When He Was a Navy Lawyer at Gitmo

As Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to run for president in 2024, his time at Guantánamo is coming under scrutiny. Prior to entering politics, DeSantis served in the Navy as an attorney, first at the U.S. prison at the Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba and later in Iraq. Former Guantánamo prisoner Mansoor Adayfi says DeSantis personally witnessed him being force-fed and tortured, and other prisoners have backed up Adayfi’s account. He joins us from his home in Belgrade for his first television interview about DeSantis’s role at Guantánamo. “While I was screaming, yelling because I couldn’t breathe … he was actually laughing, looking at the other officers and smiling,” Adayfi says of DeSantis. “He wasn’t involved directly in the force-feeding. I didn’t see him give any orders to the guards. But he was there, supervising, watching.” Adayfi was imprisoned without charge for 14 years and seven months before being released in 2016 to Serbia. In 2021, he published a memoir titled Don’t Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantánamo.
Transcript: www.democracynow.org/2023/4/3...
Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.
Support independent media: democracynow.org/donate
Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe
#DemocracyNow

[@catherinejames2734]

It makes me sick to the stomach how America thinks it can treat people like this. They don’t hold their own politicians accountable who are guilty of treason.

[@shythawks9549]

Yyeeeeaaaaa. Governments. How governments can treat people like this. You think America is bad? Jesus fuck you need to do some research

[@j01150126]

America doesn't think they can treat people like this. People like Ron DeSantis do. Don't think these people represent all Americans. What I don't like is people that use general binary terms to describe people. The guilty people were the people doing it. The public is misinformed and powerless, don't be naive.

[@catherinejames2734]

@j01150126 my problem is they get away with it. Then get voted in as politicians that represent your country. I'm not naive at all. That's your problem.

[@rebeccaLV]

If you come around to admitting that we are an imperial colonizing [read: parasitic] nation that only survives due to subjugating others--and that goes for our own powerless peons,too. We are the epitome of a highly organized fascistic state. If you can admit that, then you can begin to vote for true change to the system. Then also you won’t be surprised by these very predictable symptoms of National decline. You’ll also start to see how capitalism is behind it all..

[@coimbralaw]

Spoken like an agent of an enemy government trying to destabilize American society. Because if you know anything about Americans, the vast majority of them were utterly opposed to the War on Terror.

[@ericewallace1]

no one can say that this country is the greatest country, maybe the most powerful country, but not a moral or virtuous country

[@sgtrabbi]

Please give me a list of "Moral or Virtuous" Country's to review. I'm planning my vacations 🐏

[@waynedexter]

I’m sorry but republicans say this all the time. The American exceptionalism lie is one of the main bedrocks of their philosophy.

[@ristekostadinov2820]

every country that seeks to be an empire, can't be a good country

[@Bavafa1]

@@sgtrabbi Lets start with Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand Once you have visited there and learned more, come back for another list Mind you, they don't go brag that we are the most "moral or virtuous" nation on the planet.

[@VChong1991]

​​@@Bavafa1 out of all these angloid western countries, new Zealand is the smartest among them. They recognize their own strength and situation and choose to remain neutral.

[@williiamrogers7366]

This is outrageous. Unfair justice.

[@bettyboop3206]

This man was held without being charged for 14 years. I suppose all the desantis supporters are fine with that as long as it doesn't happen to them.

[@gypsyart6040]

Conditions in Florida Prisons where DeSantis is Governor, is beyond in-humane! Many are Private Prisons the State has a contract with, they have businesses in these prisons making furniture, telemarketing, etc. Most prisoners will tell you the danger is NOT the other prisoners, the danger is the GUARDS! Abuses of all kinds runs rampant! Some years back they passed a law that inmates and past inmates could NOT sue Prisons, Guards, Wardens, etc. So these abuses continue and inmates can't even get reparations. It's a horror story and DeSantis has absolutely NO PLANS to correct this, not ever.

[@Brian-dg3gh]

8 of those 14 years were under Obama btw.

[@yoseifhaph1020]

@Howard Bueker Glad to hear? What's wrong with you

[@ddorsey738]

It's wrong...that's why you vote Trump😅😅😅😅😊😊😊😊

[@uprightfossil6673]

Dear Betty Boop, aside from being my cartoon pin up of the perfect woman, (for six decades) you have also illuminated the hypocrisy so many of us have been pointing out. “Okay for me but not for thee”

[@michaeljoseph3528]

The evil that men do is infinite.

[@clarissagafoor5222]

Never ending. It's heartbreaking.

[@JohnHoffman65]

It is a built in flaw of human nature. One who studies history and current affairs will never be short of anecdotal stories illustrating the evil men (and occasionally women) do to one another. What is the solution? First, do not put a psychopath in a position of power. Shine a light on darkness, and hold up mirrors so people see what they are doing. Transparency of actions is the antiseptic to evil. So, strengthen the ability of journalists to hold those in power accountable. Enable ordinary citizens to be journalists to report what is happening to them or those nearby. Allow free speech to flow on platforms, while also detecting fake news, manipulated content, propaganda.

[@andrewfalconer8599]

Always figuring out new ways to outdo ourselves.

[@hrdman2luv]

Keeping someone alive is now "evil," but killing babies is not? BA HA HA HAHA HA... Y'all are nutz.

[@jonirischx8925]

The evil that the United States of America does, is infinite. Don't try generalizing these crimes away. They did this. And they must face justice.

[@laurieoshea1695]

This cannot be swept under the rug. It needs to be interrogated. I'm so very sad that someone in office, DeSatan, would do this. I'm sick. 😥😞

[@laurieoshea1695]

I meant to say investigated I have senior moments lately where I used the wrong word

[@js8705]

OMG this is absolutely horrific! I wish I had not stumbled across this. It is so upsetting that people can do this to others whether they were the ‘enemy’ or not. Shows how easy people can become horrendous creatures! America America you have done so many evil things across the world!

[@geraldsinger7982]

Do you realize Islamic terrorists have murdered over 40000 people in terrorist jihad attacks just since 9/11. They particularly target women because they are who give birth to their future enemies. If we were so bad, this POS wouldn't even be alive now, would he.

[@laurieoshea1695]

You are so right @js8705.

[@jonaswhale6451]

Dont forget and never forget who the real Terrorist are USA Terror State no. 1

[@marilyzu1340]

Horrendous demons it is👿👿🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@nurainiardananmaass8038]

Now we know who are the real axis of evil.

[@thefisherking78]

It's absolutely disgusting how we rationalized the treatment of those people, many of whom were falsely accused due to tribal resentments or other feuds unrelated to the GWOT, and never had credible evidence against them.

[@ronaldogorman777]

HE had no authority. Simply observing; servicemen follow orders.

[@audiofeinz5754]

​@Ronald O'Gorman don't matter silence is implicit sometimes

[@cobracommander9138]

The fact that these guys didn't turn into terrorist after all the torture they went through shows they are great human beings.

[@albertstephen2426]

It in fact proves the Americans were the terrorists.

[@trumpetmusic5672]

Yes, but the tortures are totally not terrorists? 😂

[@destroytheboxes]

They get paid. This guy especially got paid to say he could remember DeSantis face. What a jone

[@kungfreddie]

Can't turn into something u already are.

[@IshaqIbrahim3]

@@destroytheboxes Can you please share your knowledge so that people can learn from you and at the same time expose FAKE NEWS? You said "They get paid. This guy especially got paid to say he could remember DeSantis face. What a jone". But you did not provide any information to support your claim. What is the name of the person that got paid? How much is the payment? Who paid him? What is the date he was paid? Where did that happen? Is the payment in cash or bank transfers? Please expose the false news. Thank you.

[@FoxSullivan]

Ron DeSantis witnessing force-feeding inmates whilst smiling sounds absolutely on brand with how cruel he's been towards minorities.

[@dianahill5116]

Disown DeSantis.

[@lovingrcTV]

💯 he’s anti- just about any minority except the white ones

[@whygohome172]

He is the embodiment of HATE AND RAGE. THAT is the face of an ABUSER!

[@coreyguy5216]

I am a minority and he's been great what are you talkin ??? I live in the hood in ft Lauderdale fla in a neighborhood called Dillard and there are de'santis signs everywhere we love him down here black and white

[@nicholasfevelo3041]

1 out of 5 African-American women voted for him because of school choice

[@ibrahimantondalo9184]

I was an interpreter at Guantanamo bay for six months. Innocent People were picked up in Afghanistan by the locals and sold for money. Many were volunteers in Afghanistan. These people were beaten in Guantanamo, cursed, humilated, sleep deprived, interrogated 24/7, put in solitary confinment, no legal representation, living in cages, where their toes were eaten by mice at night. their Qur'an was thrown in toilets. The situation was so bad,. I cried few times while I was interpreting knowing these people were innocent, being at the wrong place at the wrong time., deprived of basic human rights, detained but no evidence, no contact with family, no legal representation, and the list goes on and on. I left Guantanamo heartbroken, I couldn't believe war criminals in Washington authorized this torture. Let's not forget about the Millions of Iraqis who went through this as well. One million innocent Iraqi civilians are dead due to this policy. Not to mention the theft of Trillion of Iraqi oil and GOLD!!!! War criminals in DC claimed 911 was done by Saudis, but yet choose to attack Iraq instead. Who happens to have lot and lots of OIL. Something don't add up!! God bless Iraqi civilians 🇮🇶 who are still suffering as a result of this criminal invasion and terror.

[@blindkimberly1360]

I can hear the trauma in his voice from the torture he endured. I still don’t get how this can happen without even charging them. I totally believe all of them about desantis. We’ve all seen just how sick he is when it comes to people different from him. This is heartbreaking. And maddening.

[@ChristopherWray7]

Get over doofus

[@patriayvida4209]

Time to Share this Video... Don't you think? People need to know....

[@kesart8378]

This is torture. If a detainee's health truly was in danger, their health in real decline, then an IV that would introduce nutrients would be the humane way around the "hunger strike"--not gagging them by forcing food down their throats and noses. What the guest described so eloquently constitutes a war crime. .

[@robynliteracy7057]

I can believe DeathSantis was there, chuckling at another person's pain. Turning a life-saving measure into torture, that sounds like a terrible human to me.

[@The_Tiffster]

....alternatively, they could treat them humanely, which is all they were asking for.

[@The_Tiffster]

@@robynliteracy7057: Yes. Rhonda is way too cowardly to ever intervene. Regarding his presidential aspirations, we already saw how dangerous it is when a coward is allowed to squat in the whitehouse when Putin put trump there.

[@joylean1225]

Sorry US so call rules based order dont recognise their own actions as criminal, go figure

[@rjung_ch]

Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden are complicit in the crimes against humanity!

[@LuvPureCom]

Mansoor, I am struck by your grace. You don't seem to hold any resentment towards Americans in general. After the atrocities committed against you, I can't say that I could blame you if you did. Thank you! So many of us are truly mortified that you were treated that way. I really hope more people hear your story.

[@billyjones9734]

War

[@The_Tiffster]

@@billyjones9734: -crimes

[@teeadam2996]

This is what Islam teaches us, peace be to all 🤲🏽

[@loril.mangold8160]

Thank you Mansoor, and Ahmed, for coming forward, and bringing up these Autrousities that American Government Committed on you, Not Very Democratic. Inhumane treatment. I Am glad you are free, but I am Ashamed as an American that This is the way you were treated. By my Countries Government. AND BY DeSantis it is SO Important that you tell the American Citizens what was happening to you. GOD BLESS YOU, and your Family. 14 years My God, forgive them, forgive us all, for our ignorance

[@AncientCrustacean]

So grateful for the strong survivors speaking out with such clarity. Incredible that they have been able to survive AND be well enough to speak out.

[@MrZZooh]

Maybe they weren't tortured as badly as they claim

[@stephaniezickgraf9672]

​@@MrZZooh .Some of us would regard forced feeding by having a tube inserted in a nostril going down into the throat and food pumped through, you can't breath while that's happening, as torture. Then to watch someone laughing at your plight. Bear in mind that he hadn't been charged with any offence.

[@TitusWaddimba]

Ron DeSantis was a junior officer. He had no authority to order any form of punishment or torture.

[@suehowie152]

​@@TitusWaddimba He could advise and he could observe and laugh..

[@SLIR33]

​@@MrZZooh peut etre tu aurais du être la bas à leur place 😊 on connaît les crimes atroces commis par ces monstres. Vous devrez avoir honte au lieu de faires des commentaires désobligeants

[@krlost4405]

It's amazing how composed he is after all that... If I had lost 14 years and abused in such way, I would be bitter and seeking revenge.

[@TheFriend2u]

@Krlos, People who had gone through such adversities and yet remain sane, are survivors that's why. They refuse to buckle under & be destroyed by the system. That's doesn't mean they have forgotten nor forgiven. The best form of treatment is to give De Santis a taste of his own medicine. Leave him a day in that same retention camp.

[@westindianduchess]

Perhaps but it is an opportunity to go within which is how one can communicate with the Creator. It looks as though he did just that to gain wisdom. My point is, people who go within tend to be less bitter and vengeful. When we are in our feelings, it's difficult to see that.

[@lorenegray-edgerson1463]

@@TheFriend2u YOU ARE 💯 % CORRECT!!!

[@david4096]

It amazing what people love this kind of sick stuff.They be among us..

[@sandyjuntunen4088]

How do you know he's not? Bc he seems nice on TV?

[@Bethaniji]

This is something to pray about. Do we all have the courage to take accountability and can we all take responsibility for what we have allowed to happen to our beautiful planet and her beautiful souls? All this happened "in secret." But to some degree we allowed it and are allowing it. It is a necessity that we now see the truth for who and what we are and have become. These stories are part of seeing what a sewer our government and military has become. Not only the US but other nations as well. I do believe we will rise but it is an uphill journey. We have learned a lot about who and what we are in the last 3 years.

[@janehyden1652]

pray? are u serious?

[@sheritacotten5293]

definitely prayers are needed that people are treated with dignity and respect and that the offenders are brought to justice

[@patriciamcadams3519]

Prayers are not the action needed here! 'Prayers and thoughts', that's all I ever hear from religious people, when it should be 'empathy, compassion and action' against this obvious Fascism!

[@Jack0fAllTrades]

Glad he survived and now he’s telling his story

[@Jymare444]

Despicable inhumane treatment!!

[@roboparks]

Under the Orders of Barrack Obama , GW Bush and Dick Cheney?? . So I don't get this ?? Why Are Political Officials untouchable ?? When DeSantis at the time wasn't a Political leader he was a soldier serving with JAG . The Democrats in House and Senate knew this? Did they say anything??

[@azizlulu6852]

What a nice guy. I hope he lives a long and health life.

[@destroytheboxes]

Just got paid$$$$$$$$$$

[@zhoubaidinh403]

Who, De santis?

[@rubenvaldez9629]

You don't know shit about this guy ,it's best never to flatter anyone

[@gangoffour6690]

If he wasn't force fed he would probably be dead.

[@kazyskyclay147]

Yes sir

[@gitasingh1437]

Thank you for speaking up on Guantanomo. The Americans have a lot to answer for .

[@clairebear1808]

I am sorry 😢 I wish you well ❤

[@dvanwinkle3061]

If you want to know a person’s true character give them a little power.

[@zebull399]

Facts

[@kelliecarter8376]

Right

[@imthebadguy3225]

The liberal prigressives got a little power two years ago, and look what happened.

[@kimbaldunsmore4633]

What an articulate and grounded gentleman Mansoor is, particularly after the horrors he endured. To him. I hope you find justice one day for the all wrongs that were done to you and others over so many years. Bless you mate and alsalam ealaykum.

[@khabib1]

That is very kind of you. US people are amazingly kind and worm. Unfortunately, the media and politicians are misleading this beautiful country.

[@kimbaldunsmore4633]

@@khabib1 A pleasure my friend. Only thing is that I am actually an Australian/New Zealander, but I get what you mean. Happily I think in Australia and NZ we are doing better with peacefully including everyone than in the US. I really hope America can get itself sorted out because we still need the US in the rest of the world. Anyways, take care mate

[@donzxcv1]

he's a jihadist terrorist now being used in this way

[@victoriadavis8326]

That is horrible. DeSantis was their attorney? Oh my God.

[@gsmoke9532]

It's so sad this happens n the people responsible are never held accountable. I hope they get what they deserve!

[@debbiemoore5945]

I’m a nurse and listening to how they forced feed was done is so cruel and humiliating! I’m ashamed of our country that allowed this!

[@jackspring7709]

True - also as part of their torture female soldiers used to then go in to their cells and s*****y assault them. They were like animals: during both the bush and obama years. I remember seeing an interview with one of these victims talking about how when he was recovering from having just been tortured a female soldier entered his cell, grabbed his......and photographed it. These animals used to do this (probably still do) and then compare photographs with each other as a big joke. They're savages.

[@allisonmarlow184]

Me too. And my state's governor legally backed the tortures and watched it all happen.

[@happysunnyrain1531]

The deep state

[@PollyT.Pocket22]

Boo hoo

[@trey5153]

These are not sweet people who have drug prob. Don't ve a snowflake. These are people who want to kill every American alive.

[@wanderinggypsy3203]

Finally someone is bringing this forward. I heard this a long time back. Wish it would stay more on the forefront and not just said and gone.

[@citizenoftheearth6]

exactly. Democrats have a very bad, lame, and lazy PR. For decadesIt dri es me nuts. They pay "professionals" so much money, and I (a refular person) come up with much better slogans and PR campaign ideas, than them. Maddening.

[@joycegriffin3652]

I have putting posts about this for about 5 months about his high-school teacher stint partying, drinking or ' grooming' with the teenagers. Forced a teen to drink a lot of milk in front of people and when he threw up he got a kick out of it.

[@mizfav12]

Post more about it keep it at the forefront of social media

[@wanderinggypsy3203]

@@joycegriffin3652 where. I would follow

[@imogen2092]

No matter what someone did to be sent to prison, no one deserves to be treated inhumanely. DeSatan is a poor excuse for a human being.

[@ladyrose508]

You said it beautifully. EVIL!!!

[@mgg7756]

That prison shouldn't even exist, and people in there are just kidnapped and thrown in it.

[@anthonycaretti5107]

These prisoners would kill you and your family if given a chance.

[@anthonycaretti5107]

Make America Great Again

[@davegreene8588]

​@@anthonycaretti5107 The ones repeating that BS have no idea what "great" is.

[@francespueo5367]

As an American to torture anyone is unacceptable. Totally Horrible!

[@blueatlantic2823]

I'm so glad you are safe and speaking out.

[@peggyivey5828]

Yea he would have been dead if they had nit forced fed him twice!

[@devapala879]

This revelation is likely to make De Santis more popular with his base

[@jimmcloughlin]

Friendly old Brit: Once Trump is gone he will be their hero.

[@Linguae_Music]

@@jimmcloughlin I fear that will be the case.

[@Horatio.Mantooth]

If only he recorded the torture. Then it would have been more fun

[@GardenPC]

Saving lives in gitmo, saving lives in the womb, saving lives no lockdown, saving lives under medical free choice. Some people are alive, but hey, you leftists love WAR WAR WAR supplying weapons to prolong WAR WAR WAR, vote baby killingband age against those that saved lives..... if it was a starved man in hospital you can bet your ass the nurses would force tubes to feed. But you hate that.

[@gingercarner8733]

Revoltingly and horrifyingly true...

[@danl5592]

This gentleman can actually smile after such an ordeal, kudos to him 👌💯☮️

[@SG-dq5pj]

He said Hello America just so heartbreaking.

[@andreah6379]

And talented, too! Did you see his artwork...wow! This is another American horror story, brought to us by fascistic politicians and cheered on by fascistic corporate MSM.

[@blueblue5427]

He is a Muslim. You will be surprised how kind we are although many of us are mistreated.

[@HughJass-jv2lt]

He still suffering PTSD...

[@idontdohumans5950]

You can't even force people in nursing homes to do what's good for them if you do. It would be considered abuse. You could be jailed and lose your nursing license, so how in the world would this be okay? This is horrible 😢

[@seekingtruthnotfindingany7301]

Wierd comparison.

[@PollyT.Pocket22]

A sick old person in nursing home in America vs 18 yr old terrorist in Gitmo bad analogy. Find a better hysterical comparison.

[@dennischallinor8497]

They were defending freedom.

[@trey5153]

What's horrible about force feeding people who have committed crimes and planed on killing as many Americans as possible.

[@sandyw.1040]

How in the world did state governor's get away with murdering COVID elderly by putting them back in nursing homes with healthy patients who died..They need to be in prison..

[@CKB-vi8nw]

He hasn’t mentioned it because he’s embarrassed and the whole situation was illegal as hell and inhumane.

[@joserobles7074]

This should be in an ad nationwide campaign against DeSatan. Let Florida and the world know who he really is.

[@tomford1080]

Who he really is? You think people are perfect? If this is the best you clowns can do your a joke. Peoples lives are great in Florida and nobody is going to care about this shit…everybody knows that prison was a mistake on the US part but don’t act like there weren’t plenty of Dems with skeletons in there closet as well.

[@wittelsbacher27cameron16]

Well the world know who America is ! The parasite of the world! War crime nation! Now the world is pushing back as USA forces ww3! The problem in Europe we have is Americas fault not Putin! USA bombed our pipelines in Germany and blamed russia😂! Well ..... USA ..... you terrorists attack on our countries pipelines have gotten busted !!! Us allies as well about ww2 ! You neve won more did. Germany conceded ! The truth will prevail and the time is mow! USA is exposed for all there war crimes over 59 years and never ever won any war! Vietnam they whipped out an entire nation and murdered slaughtered over 5 million Vietnamese..... lese talk about that America -and the Thais ads of babies you kidnapped !!!

[@generationofswine-ge5rw]

Republican voters would be proud of this. I think they need to stress that these prisoners were not involved in any terrorism at all. Essentially they were kidnapped by criminals who were interested in collecting the bounty the US offered for terrorists. They were tortured so they would confess to being members in non-existent terrorist groups, then imprisoned at Gitmo so that the US gov't could say they were prosecuting the War on Terror, which was nothing but a massacre for political and economic benefit and nothing else. We don't even know how many innocent people the US killed after 9/11 but I'm sure it was millions.

[@Gabe-Utseck]

DeSatan 💀

[@juliestanfield8433]

Democracy Now just told you this.. lol. It has been going on for years and years. Ignore Biden ( as VP and President) and Obama bombed Syrians Afghanistan, Yemenis, and Libyans.

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

Desantis is the worst example of how lawyers can have no principles other than the money that pays them.

[@whm_w8833]

JAG doesn’t pay much compare to private law firms. It’s all duty to nation and power

[@marlenestewart7772]

​@Stewart Troll.

[@johnathanwilliams2913]

@@whm_w8833 exactly gotta take orders from the President and congress basically.

[@Purecarbo]

Try not eating in a psych ward in any American hospital and watch what happens..

[@cloudlounger6903]

Hey Amy, please do an expose on the current condition of AMERICAN PRISONS!

[@alexgoslar4057]

Mansor Adayfi is a resilient person. After all that he went through, he is still an optimist. A man with a smile.

[@andreah6379]

And very talented artist. Innocent people, kind, considerate ppl that had zero to do with fascists politicians and corporate MSM lies and propaganda all to make $$$$. Nothing more evil than that.

[@florgonzalez1211]

If they force fed him then he wouldve been dead of they didn't so ???

[@SJDubl]

Agreed. Much respect to him

[@MarcoDollenz]

Peaceful paintings etc amazing

[@erinmich5425]

Mansoor, you are a strong person. I’m so sorry that happened to you. Desantis is truly an evil person, there’s a special place in hell for Desantis.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Nah bro

[@Katlady001]

Hell awaits this man and nothing will interfere with justice.

[@Horatio.Mantooth]

You support a disgusting Islamic terrorist? Well well,we got another traitor on our hands

[@suehowie152]

​@@Katlady001 What did he do?

[@RengifoOrtega]

there is not hell .. that's the same part of it 😮

[@xanderbrigman6353]

You never forget the face(s) of your kidnapper(s), torturer(s), or oppressor(s). The light is shining on you Ron. The statue of liberty in a bottle on a deserted beach speaks volumes. LOUD AND CLEAR!! WAIT! Did he say depleted uranium?!

[@hollywood1950lw]

That was horrifying what those detainees suffered and Ron desantis did nothing to help those people. He’s an awful human being

[@pugmahone9439]

I’d like to see Piers Morgan do a whole programme on the forced feeding of Irish political prisoners during the Hunger Strikes , many men and women were tied down and a tube forced down their throats through which they poured some sort of liquid gruel causing severe discomfort and panic as the victims could no breathe during the procedure. Force feeding has been used on Irish political prisoners for generations but you’ll never ever see any reports of it on British media.

[@FacelessSoulessHumanity]

A friend of mine from Co Down was one of those who were force fed. He was killed later by the occupiers in the streets of Armagh. His resentment killed him!

[@cynthiamorgan7756]

EXACTLY!

[@danutamarchwinski6226]

Exactly 😊

[@robertjames6640]

Instances of torture used on Irish prisoners in The Maze were reported in the press and challenged by opposition leaders in the government. It was an abomination.

[@melvinbaldwin9830]

@@FacelessSoulessHumanity sorry to hear that brother! Rip to ur friend.

[@scottblack7182]

Can we just appreciate for a second how f*cking talented this guy was after all this to make such a beautifully haunting image with his own hands . Glad he's free, now he and many others just need justice .

[@andreah6379]

Exactly!! To see his kindness, and TALENT! after all he and his ppl have been through at the hands of greedy, narcissistic sociopathic politicians & MSM, he is the much bigger person than anyone in American power. This is the reichwing nightmare this is our history.

[@roxannepedley2728]

yes, but the other fellow, (the Nazi criminal) was free always to commit all sorts of atrocities with a chance to get his ass in the White House. Shame on us and this cursed system!

[@ceebee4750]

If only this piece could go wide across US media.

[@transmanj9443]

You can hear in his speech pattern and see in his expressions that he's suffering from severe PTSD. Just horrific what happened to these men who were held and tortured, particularly since they weren't criminals.

[@andio3i766]

Its a fake story, all other news station already debunked this

[@umelokarnes5460]

OMG! Fourteen years being held without charges most of which was in solitary confinement. An excellent example of man's inhumanity to man! 😢

[@jamesremey2017]

should of been life they killed Americans

[@cotus2408]

Downright DESPICABLE 😱😡 !

[@andio3i766]

Its a fake story, all the other media platforms already debunked it.

[@MediaFXNoosa]

yes the Demorats did the same after Jan 6th putting people in prison for having a peaceful tour around the whitehouse

[@MediaFXNoosa]

and dont forget Julian Assange - why hasnt Joe Brandon called off the dogs

[@2btpatch]

Mansoor’s art is so powerful. I hope his images become better known. It’s unconscionable what happened to him at Guantanamo.

[@ReformedRepublican]

And Ron DeSantis has shown a dictator type of personality. He lies, he enjoys cruelty, he is positively Hitlrrian in his abridgment of freedom of speech, banning of books, threatening teachers with felonies if they do not teach what he dictates, has brought in the military to fill teacher slots (probably strong on discipline and weak on lesson plans), he has activated a police force that is answerable ONLY TO HIM, and other forms of government that one finds in an autocratic dictatorship but NOT IN A DEMOCRACY. We have 49 states and one dictatorship. Floridians are suffering under the dictatorship of a fascist dictator in the form of a Governor who enjoys being in iron control of the lives of every Floridian. Thank God l don't live there!

[@lwetse9846]

Check his interview with Richard Medhurst u will c what is abuse tI mean the core of abuse

[@HollyFayHolverson777]

I admire that former prisoner for speaking up about what took place. I fully believe him. 😅

[@tammyburke9453]

I cannot unhear this. My heart breaks for these prisoners. It Happened. HERE. We need more Light. More exposure. Oh my God the us government has done horrific torture

[@katieking8830]

Remember Dick Cheney was ALL about water boarding to Guantanamo prisoners!

[@one4320]

That's the least if his crimes.

[@sedg03]

Bush2 n cheney1... Bush1... cheney2... Real bad guys = bush n cheney families.

[@gretaberry4983]

I’m glad you’re doing a piece on the inhumane treatment of the prisoners

[@jamesremey2017]

why were they not exacuted

[@wyattcosby7134]

how about they do a spot on our men being dragged behind a truck in their country our guys were trying to keep their people alive with forced feeding

[@curtisthomas2670]

They were not prisoners. Prisoners have rights these guys didn't have

[@curtisthomas2670]

Forced feeding is illegal

[@inlandempress4587]

​@@wyattcosby7134 how about stop making excuses for brutality and torture

[@ademarifaj3316]

Thank you EMY for exposing criminals and bringing TRUTH to People

[@AbeJacoby]

She is priceless!

[@endseebotsy]

I call bullshit Adem Arifaj ! They brought war to our shore, SO YOU GET WHAT YOU GOT.

[@bonitaroache73]

It's terrific for and I thank this Man for telling the Truth and exposing the War Criminals. Karma is on the way...

[@roboparks]

Obama and Hillary would also be on trial . I'm all for going after war criminals but you have to go after ALL of them not Cherry pick because you like their Politics? And by doing that make you a dishonest and manipulative person. Which is a form of demonic behavior because your end goal is to cause harm to others.

[@federalreservebrown2507]

jews did 9/11 and there is no karma

[@petermastenbroek7719]

Lets hope so.

[@hrdman2luv]

@@petermastenbroek7719 Keeping someone alive is now a war crime. LMAO... This is hilarious.

[@aarguitar64]

@@hrdman2luv Keeping them alive for what purpose?

[@hollywood423]

I was tortured by 6 Deputies. And this has left me injured and unable to work

[@kilimanjaro77international26]

Someone should be responsible for these young man lost time and pain

[@clintonwashington8609]

Rapper and activist Mos Def went through this process and filmed it to make sure people knew how forced feeding actually works. It might be a little dramatic but the point was solid.

[@rheamccauley5436]

So sad

[@coreyguy5216]

Some people call it force-feeding others call it suicide prevention

[@captainwin6333]

@@coreyguy5216 Some call it human rights abusing bastards,

[@clintonwashington8609]

@@coreyguy5216 he shouldn’t have been there to begin with. I was in Iraq the first time I saw someone black hooded. It was very disturbing. Imagine someone busting in the wrong house and snatching you out in the middle of the night holding you for 14 years in squalid conditions and then being released and told oh sorry we had the wrong person have a nice rest of your life. If I was him I’d sue the US and the department of defense.

[@clintonwashington8609]

@@coreyguy5216 also I would have gone on hunger strike too if I’m imprisoned for no reason. I’d rather die then be tortured like that

[@gwenratcliffe3815]

This is absolutely sick!! Our government is sick. They're animals. I'm repulsed. This would make you shudder and vomit. To allow this outrage to go on indefinitely. Electing these people to government office is unacceptable, but we have so few options in this country. We're always between a rock and a hard place.

[@stephaniechampion7260]

I live in Florida and did NOT vote for Desantis but this is the first Im hearing about this! The DNC and the dems in Florida need to do a better job of pointing out who the republicans are while also getting out their own policy ideas.

[@jackspring7709]

And to show you how truly sick this whole set-up was: female soldiers used to then go in to their cells and s*****y assault these torture victims as part of their torture. They were like animals: during both the bush and obama years.

[@eliw3261]

No, really. Animals don't forcefeed. Forcefeeding was invented by humans. It is a form of torture.

[@ChristopherWray7]

U act like the opposition will even try to force feed u lol they would of killed ur ass

[@zeda3609]

Dems are doing this now to their opponents

[@janefrost3447]

I am a seasoned registered professional nurse, terrible torture of fellow human beings. What kind of insanity is the US govt. Up to?

[@lesliejeancamp]

I have had nasogastric tubes inserted through my nose, through the soft tissue down to my esophagus then down to my stomach 8 or more times in the last 20 years. I was not restrained. People were doing the best they could to comfort me and put me in the best posture to reduce the feeling that someone is trying to choke me to death. Despite the fact that I've had this done multiple, it still horrifies me and turns me into a weeping wreck -and I'm pretty tough when it comes to illness. The tubes I had inserted were thin, soft, and flexible. I will do almost anything to avoid that tube. I cannot imagine how it felt to be restrained, to have people jamming a thick tube into your nose, throat, and stomach, and to have onlookers observing the terror and humiliation of being violated in such a grotesque way. It's inhuman. It's the antithesis of what America claims to be. It's torture and torture should be eradicated wherever it resides. And it should be prosecuted or at least exposed. Shepard Smith, one of the few actual journalists on Fox who had any credibility outside the babble bubble of Fox News said "We are America, we do not fucking torture!" It is time to extricate ourselves from the heartless and godless treatment of people imprisoned in an American prison -wherever that prison may be. People who witnessed, condoned, or participated in any way should be tried, and if found guilty they should go to prison and then be barred from serving in any federal or state office, the Armed Forces, or as a member of any police force, etc.

[@sparklesp9304]

But nurses do the same thing with patients...

[@src3360]

​@@sparklesp9304 Nurse here. Whats your point??

[@hakunamatata3935]

​@@sparklesp9304 Are you human?

[@lf3541]

​@@sparklesp9304 Nurse with nearly 40 years of clinical experience here...NG tubes happen, sure. But as described by this detainee? No. First, do no harm. Even prisoners are entitled to human rights, and you should brush up on your world history, starting with the Geneva Convention.

[@SunnieLoveAlways]

Same! I haven't had as many NG tubes as you though. I hope you experience impossible HEALING & wake up one day with health problems being a distant memory! 🥰 When he describes the hardness & thickness of the tube I was like 😮😢 but when he said they put sharp metal tips on it AND kept pumping while he 🤮 I stg I was holding back the tears!!! Anyone that defends this or says it isn't torture is a liar, not listening & doesn't care!! Even if they administered it properly...the mere addition of laxatives would still be PROOF that this was meant to be torture! Unreal! 😭🤯

[@Plant_Parenthood]

I first heard about this story like 6 months ago and I have been wondering what the hell happened to it. This is something that everyone needs to hear about.

[@georgewhite2469]

ESPECIALLY TRUMP

[@bobbeckhart1707]

​@@georgewhite2469 oh he would have a field day with this

[@kayalcorn9569]

Amy, I don't know how you do it. For as long as I can remember, you've been reporting on some of the most depraved & evil crimes committed by humanity. While your voice has always been desperately needed, I can't imagine the fortitude it must take to continue day after day exposing the world's atrocities. How do you cleanse yourself each and every day so that you can live normally? You are a special soul. Thee voice for those who have been forgotten. Thank you for your service.

[@derekvancampenhout5530]

Making someone eat , is that like waterboarding 😂

[@e-spy]

The art work is disturbing, thought provoking, and beautiful. The fact that he spent 14 years in Gitmo with no representation or charges makes me ashamed of our country. It isn't only DeSantis who is cruel. Going to part 2...

[@wittelsbacher27cameron16]

Yes be ashamed same as You should be foe all the illegal wars with bio chemical weapons your country bombed in the Middle East with lies and an unjustified wars with lies and out of greed ! USA will pay foe all of this pain they brought to over 100 million dead moslems thru years of illegal war crimes!

[@hestratittsworth4107]

Florida is an evil state that's run by an evil governor is asking for the most high to come through with a horrific Hurricane to demolished the whole state of florida.

[@andreah6379]

His artwork is beautiful and real. From Raygun on, reichwing/fascist politicians & corporations have become our on-going nightmare.

[@TS-1267]

..... MMmmmmm! ....

[@abdulmuneerdost2465]

American politicians don't want these arts/sketches returned to the prisoners due to security concerns bs? 🤔 or simply fearing American image worlwide will further deteriorate just like their $$ 😅😅

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

"So one of the jobs of the Legal Advisor would be like hey you can actually force feed, here's what you can do, here's kind of the rules of that." - Ron DeSantis at Guantanamo

[@zhoubaidinh403]

Rule based world order my man...

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

@@zhoubaidinh403 whatever my man... I guess you support torture?

[@jamesremey2017]

they killed our solders

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

@@jamesremey2017 you don't know that.

[@amayastrata4629]

@@jamesremey2017 our soldiers killed them too and some deserved it, some didn’t. If you listen to how this chap got there then you could quite easily submit that this wasn’t one of the enemy. It’s always a good idea to think of the phrase ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’. Also, the reasons why we were in those countries was unfounded.

[@terryseviltwin]

I am so sickened by what my country has done.

[@paulmoore3280]

He just said that Ron DeSantis wasn't in charge of giving the orders.

[@miriampborne]

Thank you for making us aware of what was done to this man and others at Guantanamo and DeSantis' role in this torture. I just ordered the book to inform myself and be able to write about it in my daily political online haiku. Very informative and troubling. What a strong and good man, Manoor Adayfi. HIs artwork is beautiful and insightful. I look forward to reading what he has written.

[@Horatio.Mantooth]

No one cares. He deserved it.

[@christinemott8799]

You have to do what u are Told. Period. It's the military. You do Not get a choice

[@JohnnyleeDepp-bm9ki]

Florida the state where alligator 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊 Food is humans Evil Politicians are zoo keepers ...

[@susanfrancis5471]

Good morning Sir, from California USA. Happy to see you Alive and Well, After more than 16 years of uncharged detention. I’m so sorry you had to suffer such indignity.

[@peggyivey5828]

You don't know if he was guilty or not.

[@posadafan2058]

Speechless. Wow!

[@ChristianPareATLAS]

A lawyer saying people deciding from their own will to do an hunger strike to be compared to terrorism 🤦🏼

[@Elena-rt9yu]

Sir, I am sooooo sorry, that you suffered indescribable torture by these fascists. Glad u r well.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Sounds like some kind of bible stuff.

[@jamesremey2017]

they killed our solders

[@rohanxdavis]

@@jamesremey2017 Your pro war and occupation government sent your poor soldiers to their deaths, so blame your government's greed.

[@elizabethreed3358]

@@jamesremey2017 They were held at Gitmo with no charges and no proof! Don't you think charges would have been filed against them if they had killed our soldiers?

[@jamesremey2017]

they killed our boys commi keep talking it feels good

[@TheScapegoat420]

This is crazy! I never heard this story. Good to know. Our government is so horrible. It's broken beyond repair at this point.

[@chandlerspears6705]

Oh! Just wait and see all the stiff stuff that's going to come out during this run up to the Primary! 😏

[@susanfrancis5471]

Ya gotta look in order to See. So, Look, read, experience.

[@susanfrancis5471]

No. It’s Not.

[@chandlerspears6705]

So what did you read to. Come to that conclusion.. of course he was there and he was laughing just like the man said he was

[@andio3i766]

You never heard about this story because its fake. All the other media platforms like cnn,abc and msnbc already debunked it

[@beyondleftfield4470]

That old video is definitely NOT him "authorizing" anything, it's recounting an answer to a question from a military superior as to what his legal options are.

[@Vpzoe]

Former military here. Base Commanders don't do force feedings, just like corporate CEOs don't work the Help Desk when their companies have a product issues. They get junior officers/middle managers to authorize it and then make sure the soldiers/employees carry out the task. Period.

[@frankel7715]

Sickening how people can do these types of things to each other and still claim to be civilized. Peace Love and Power to ALL Peaceful Loving people.

[@PG-wz7by]

And still walk the streets!

[@nobbytang]

Snowflake…

[@iwanterniwsky9441]

Those russians...

[@cindyjames3686]

Take off your rose-colored glasses.

[@frankel7715]

@@cindyjames3686 no veil over these eyes. My comment was to highlight how low the human spirit has sunken. Like when people make disparaging comments on strangers posts. We gotta be better 😒🙄

[@francinecamerini1469]

This is disgusting. What happened in that prison is so horrific and unAmerican. Shameful.

[@abdulimraan2706]

Nothing about America is kosher with all the illegal wars and made up Terrorist attacks like 9:11 which CIA and Mossad carried out like what happened to the USS liberty ship

[@hellovicki6779]

It is very American sadly.

[@albertstephen2426]

It is ABSOLUTELY and QUINTESSENTIALY AMERICA.

[@francinecamerini1469]

@@hellovicki6779 i guess you are right. It is very American now.

[@francinecamerini1469]

@@albertstephen2426 yes, it is sadly America now. I just thought we were supposed to be better than that, guess not.

[@cynthiamorgan7756]

It's about time someone discussed DESATAN & GITMO!

[@ileanafigueroa8685]

How inhuman the people were who took part of these atrocities towards indefensible people in Guantanamo. Horrible, inimaginable, no conscience whatsoever from all those who took part of that criminal behavior. HORRIBLE.

[@loyddussaultsr4181]

Ron DeSantis is the poster boy for sociopaths

[@greenthumb8266]

DeSatis has “vacant” eyes……

[@alab3657]

Biden bombed a family of aid workers in Afghanistan. Killing 7 children. You must be proud.

[@bobclarke2242]

DeathSantis is a more appropriate nickname than most of us want to realize.

[@beaur252]

Yes, because he prevented you people from grooming in FLorida schools.

[@Successful504]

​@@beaur252 isn't the "groomer, bartz", a republikkkan congressman from Florida?

[@nanyobeznaz2558]

We are nothing like what we could be. Somehow we have forgotten that we make the world what it is. That all it takes for evil men to win is for good men to do nothing.

[@hellovicki6779]

Your egos and grandiose opinions of your national identity are astonishing. Sorry, but you did not solely make the world what it is. You played a part, but so did many other nations and cultures. Also, America's positive influence stemmed from a culturally diverse population and the position of an unexploited continent usurped from the indigenous people. So some humility is warranted as well as affording credit to all players whose efforts made up US contributions. It is really terribly boorish and boastful to make such claims. Otherwise I agree and wish people were kinder and better but alas it seems we are not.

[@ronaldogorman777]

Do you think force feeding is bad when someone in your care is in danger of starving to death. As an aside, that clip didn't convince me he actually ordered it. He simply explained under what circumstances it would be necessary.

[@Lahai-Roi]

You can't be a high politician without being a criminal

[@erijqudus6654]

Geneva Convention: “It specifically prohibits murder, mutilation, torture, the taking of hostages, unfair trial, and cruel, humiliating and degrading treatment. It requires that the wounded, sick and shipwrecked be collected and cared for. It grants the ICRC the right to offer its services to the parties to the conflict". Readers of my comment may like to ask, why these detainees were never tried in the court? Were they more serious criminals than the Nazi and the Japanese General Tojo? And why extra judicial killing of the main accused took place? I will never find the answers.

[@generationofswine-ge5rw]

The first part of your comment sounds like a list of favorite things of US "soldiers" who committed atrocities in the years after 9/11. That's why veterans end up with addiction and mental health problems and often end up homeless: they can't come to terms with what they did. I'm sure it seemed like fun when they were avenging their buddies and high fiving their accomplices while drunk, but most people can't live with themselves in the end. The ones who enjoy committing these horrors like DeSantis, come back and become cops so they can carry on a life of abusing and murdering innocent people and they are paid a lot of money and can't be held accountable if their crimes are exposed. People who do these things without a conscience are called psychopaths.

[@sheilasullivan1950]

China, Russia and America all disrespect this convention.

[@seymourtony]

Obama campaigned to close Guantanamo and promised to do so at his inauguration in Jan 2009. 14 years later...😭

[@hermantsoenyane1969]

The detention without trial strategy is used by autocratic governments to hold innocent people as prisoners because they can't bring them to court with any charge. In other words they have nothing on them to charge them with.

[@inalike1789]

Bush created the horror. Detaining people w no charges. He should have been charged w crimes against humanity!!!

[@casandrareed777]

My government accuses and penalizes so many governments around the world of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their projection is undeniable. I love some aspects of the United States, but i am embarrassed by our hypocrisy. A country that I would take pride to be a part of would be willing to admit mistakes, take accountability, and take action to learn and not repeat. These are lessons learned in elementary school, yet collectively, we refuse to improve. The results are tragic not only for the people of the United States but for the wave impact felt around the world. I will not forget.

[@zappa7338]

There is a reason the world knows America sucks and it heading the way of the Romans......that 37% isn't lying, it's your product and that percentage should be growing until your eventual demise. But we put you in our prayers!

[@karelglasner2673]

America is currently the biggest JOKE on the world's stage.

[@user-lb2ub5ti3g]

The USA is not a signatory at the World Court, so American soldiers can't be charged for these kind of atrocities. In this one fact the US resembles Russia.

[@casandrareed777]

@Arthur Pyme , that is such an important point you brought up. The United States choosing not to participate as one of the global signatories perhaps reflects the values this country was built upon: self interests and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy, industry, and military force run our government. The preference of remaining accountable to no one besides ourselves makes it difficult to believe that our government and people care about ensuring human rights and taking actions that protect the environment when we can't even commit to a partnership of solidarity. Fear of rightful judgment by a less biased body, I believe, perhaps one reason why. I feel that we only have to look at recently passed legislation and the movement to rewrite history to understand that we can't even make such a commitment within our own political borders.

[@happysunnyrain1531]

It's the deep state that runs things. Same that killed Jay efff Kay because he didn't want endless wars and secrets and wanted to get rid of the see eye Aee.

[@clinkedylinkedy1]

No more war criminals!!!

[@user-pb8yw8cw3s]

It's unbelievable how he denied giving orders !

[@endlessadventure541]

Heartbreaking

[@markdarnell614]

Amy...EVERY Day I watch DEMOCRACY NOW, I am very grateful for the Information, Knowledge , and - Perspective you bring to all of us who want to live in a better World, a more Equitable, and Compassionate World where Justice is the Order of the Day! Thank You, and Everyone at Democracy Now for Speaking TRUTH to Power!

[@whettphartz9839]

🤣 Simp.

[@JeepCherokeeful]

You meant “Socialism Now”

[@Unfamous_Buddha]

@@JeepCherokeeful- I WISH it was Socialism Now! Maybe you'd be happy being force-fed from the opposite end of your body?

[@trumpetmusic5672]

Lol, I guess if you have never watched independent media Democracy Now is the best news you have ever seen? 😂

[@destroytheboxes]

@@Unfamous_Buddha human beings will ALWAYS prevent socialism from working. Mark it. Always.

[@revelgirl1742]

Ashamed that my country tortured you and others. I pray you recover & find peace & joy in your life.

[@lovetastewart9177]

May God have mercy on our souls 🙏

[@skorzeny012]

This man's artwork needs to be in our galleries

[@stevecoldrick8891]

And available to us on T-shirts! I'm ready to buy. They would be great conversation starters!

[@abielgarcia463]

For sure desmentís will ban them.

[@creativespark7371]

I’m an artist. An no, any man who has been in Guantanamo has clearly participated in crimes. I’d prefer that a criminal’s artwork is not in the art galleries I visit and hang my artwork in.

[@abielgarcia463]

@@creativespark7371 bush the worst criminal on the world deserve to put his art on a gallery. Did not you heard thatvthis man was abducted but the policies” on the USA did not allowed the to have a fair trial and they did not have the right to protest. For sure DeSantis is good person because as a lawyer did not need a jury to execute a suspect. Not even listen to the victim.

[@abielgarcia463]

@@creativespark7371 Not clearly. Hope you know the meaning of fair trial.

[@plumafina]

what a noble man.

[@donzxcv1]

you mean DeSantis

[@s.h.6219]

​@Don Lindsay, i hope not.

[@marlenestewart7772]

​@@donzxcv1 Troll.

[@suehowie152]

​@@donzxcv1 Hell no!

[@anntrope491]

@@donzxcv1 Your sick...seek mental health help...

[@lalexander1144]

I had no idea. Even if DeSantis was following orders, at least own up to it and apologize for what he could not do at the time. Own it. Don't hide it.

[@sherrybriggs5459]

It makes me laugh americans treat prisoners much better than any other country does

[@LuvLuke954]

The more I know about this country the more ashamed and disgusted I am by it. Who are these ppl we continue to vote for and or believe in??

[@plightfoot8491]

And you believe this crap

[@likeasoldier777]

The people voting for these filthy criminals are like minded people.

[@torreyinnewyorkcity334]

That is heartbreaking

[@allisonmarlow184]

We need more Floridians and more Americans to see this.

[@TheSuperdeadalus]

Its a fake story and they got a lawsuit for that, what he said was taking out of context and actually it was liberal media that debunked it as fake story.