Return to Afghanistan: An ex-Guantanamo detainee confronts trauma | Witness Documentary

Haunted by nightmares of torture and abuse, British human rights campaigner Moazzam Begg decides to return to Afghanistan to confront the horrors of his past.
Moazzam was detained at the notorious Bagram and Guantanamo Bay prisons without charge or trial, before being released in 2003. Ever since, Moazzam has fought for the rights of those imprisoned during the so-called, US-led war on terror.
In Afghanistan, Moazzam advocates for the freedom of Muhammad Rahim, the last Afghan held in Guantanamo Bay.
As the nation grapples with the scars of war under new Taliban leadership, can Moazzam ever make peace with his past?
Echoes of Bagram is a film by Michael McEvoy and Horia El Hadad.
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[@James-Walker-]

Aljazeera is the best factual news, that’s coming from someone in the west 🇵🇸❤️

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for your positive feedback, dear@@James-Walker- 🙌

[@user-og4rq7pt8q]

❤❤❤ love

[@TD1237]

@@James-Walker- As a South African, I completely agree.

[@muzzammilahmad745]

But unfortunately nobody will call it american terrorism What American terrorists have done to Afghan civilians

[@HafeezUllah057]

Double standards 😢

[@AmericaButcherofHumanity]

Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria , Libya ,Yemen ,Somalia, Vietnam

[@ousmanleigh2206]

True! No matter how you look at it

[@TD1237]

And continue to do.

[@nusratbhat825]

If you have money power ur nt terrorists only poor people r terrorists 😢😢😢

[@imanitasnim007]

22 years without any charges! This is a crime itself.

[@AliKhan-qm3xz]

More than five hundred

[@petroeng9310]

He is freed now and guess what does he do first thing first. Goes to AFG, takes pics with talibans. Praises talibs ban on women education. He is hypocite playing rule of victim.

[@adammitxhell2932]

I have no words to descibe what US and UK did to Afgahnistan. It is a horror beyond contemplation.

[@leslie-annmills-gomez8763]

It's why they support Israel

[@VeryStrict]

Afghanistan has been doing much more to itself and its people than the US and UK combined. Watch the docu about bacha bazi. It's here on youtube.

[@Puta692]

@@VeryStrictThe US is a warmonger they just destroyed the other country with their democracy.

[@OMARKHAN970]

​@@VeryStrict bacha bazi became common when there was no shariah like LGBTQ, adultery and other things common in india

[@meatiest1989]

@@VeryStrict Unironically, the USA and its western allies allowed Afghan security forces to perform Bacha bazi. Even before the Soviets came in, the Afghan communists knew to give Bacha bazi practitioners a d€ath sentence! Better yet, it wasn’t common.

[@SaharimanKabir]

It's a very devastating story to know the enormous torture the Americans did with the Afgans and so many Muslims around the world, how they just ruined the life, family, couples of generations... for their lies and need of treasure. But al hamdulillah, it's a great documentary, Al Jazeera. Keep it up for the oppressed people of the world

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching, dear Sahariman.

[@kingsman3087]

@@aljazeeraenglish 90 percent world heroin is a bad deed that was worse than the war itself in terms of civilian deaths

[@kingsman3087]

@@aljazeeraenglish 90 percent world heroin>the war

[@TD1237]

When he spoke about what they did to that guy, with the bag over his head and tied for 5 days... and then coming back and b33ating him until he's deed. That was so disturbing to hear about. 😥

[@abrarhashmi6025]

After 40 years of fight for independence Afghanistan is now peaceful and free... Thank God

[@sartajparveen2001]

50 years brother, even before the Soviet invaded Afghanistan. The Puppet government of the Soviet Union was fighting a civil war in Afghanistan.

[@NeoFreshair]

I'm very happy for Afghan people living free from American and British rulers and their puppet regimes who brought dirt and misery ..... ..... When comparing Iraq and Afghanistan, then you see the difference, where in Iraq people aren't free, but in Afghanistan people are free in terms of inner peace not seeing occupiers and their servants at your face everyday and night ..,.

[@Puta692]

@@hedayatullah744Afghanistan is now a better place under the Taliban regime.

[@mo6278]

​@@NeoFreshair inshallah 🙌

[@dinasun3]

What was this foreign man from India or Pakistan doing or connected to Afghanistan in the first place?

[@hollowed8943]

May that poor taxi driver rest in peace

[@sonianercam8058]

Ameen

[@jallohyasin5681]

I think this prison should be turn to a museum for everyone to see what the great powers did in Afghanistan

[@mappilakty]

This ^^

[@Absilon13]

Full support from India from a Sikh to you, best wishes to your health and peace and strength for those who are still fighting this war behind the jails.

[@ahussaini4048]

@Absilon you are so kind!!

[@user-bh1wg3ez8o]

Jeenda rawy Khalsa❤❤

[@sumaiyaafreen8920]

Sikhs are the most large hearted lovely people you could come across.

[@Absilon13]

@@sumaiyaafreen8920 thank you i hope you are doing well. 🤗

[@Absilon13]

@@user-bh1wg3ez8o dhanvaad ji

[@want2cit]

As an Afghan myself I’m very sorry for the trauma you experienced and may Allah heal you and elevate you amongst the noble servants.

[@theHamster624]

detainees HELD WITHOUT CHARGE. THEY WERE KIDNAPPED ILLEGALLY AND TORTURED FOR NO REASON.

[@ewanespmsdnbhd355]

Indeed

[@SO-ud6ro]

Kidnapping was invented on oct 7th. Nothing else counts

[@theexotic2983]

I'm so very proud of akhi Moazzam Begg for being man enough to accept his emotions and cry. That is very brave of him and truly just worthy of praise.

[@user-kn5wf4yu6g]

22 years in prison just because he said there is only one god worthy of worshipping and that Islamic Emirate was not involved in 9/11 attack. What Afghan people suffered because of the United States and the republic government of Afghanistan can't be described with words.

[@leslie-annmills-gomez8763]

Well said

[@leslie-annmills-gomez8763]

I believe him though

[@NeoFreshair]

They were used to brainwash Western societies to accept the curb on freedom of speech, spying on their emails, postage, strip and search on airports, freeze bank accounts .... And invent terror act laws .....

[@mohammadKhan-fh4cq]

Exactly

[@afghans0ldier]

As an Afghan, I thank you brother Moazzam Begg.

[@alimajid8118]

But Afghans hate Pakistanis call us daal khor and say we sold Afghan people??

[@artemisqueen2]

Please, this guy is not Afghan, he is Pakistani….its very obvious. Don’t be fooled.

[@Harry-gy4fp]

​@@artemisqueen2he thanked mozam beg wether he is f..kostani or not but why u people are barking everywhere.

[@G.b007]

​@@artemisqueen2 don't try to spread your shi💩💩 everywhere🤮

[@shuswukiwq0931]

@@artemisqueen2and what he’s a Muslim who went through same hardships as the other talibans. It’s people like you who divide afghans you probably come from an uneducated filthy family which does not know equality

[@user-nf1tg1ym9g]

This is shocking! The country of human rights!! 15 years in jail without any accusation or court. Where is justice? Isn’t this dehumanisation? Death and PTSD are one only different places. I used to hear negative things about this channel, now i know why do they criticise it, cause they tell the truth.

[@je7647]

I lived with a "terrorist" who was held without charge for 18 months, he went out and stabbed up a supermarker of people and was shot by the police... but I reckon the fact they kept him there with no charges made him do it. he was my cellmate for 4 months

[@AquosRaid]

Thanks to Aljazeera for this documentary ❤..

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching. We are glad you loved our film.

[@uzma970]

May Allah keep M Rahim safe and ensure his quick release Aameen

[@user-yu2ch1el5h]

Aameen

[@olaleykhan]

9:02 there is only so much a man can do to act strong. there is so much injustice in this world and it just breaks you however strong hearted you are.

[@whome4851]

They must take USA and their partners in crime to court.

[@ThePpretyman]

They should take the Taliban to court. It was their actions in welcoming terrorist organisations that caused this mess

[@12thninja]

​@@ThePpretymanNot those who did the mess?

[@muzzammilahmad745]

​@@ThePpretyman why america came to Afghanistan Listen Afghanistan is graveyard of foreign occupiers

[@user-gy1oo5bj8s]

You mean Pakistani army

[@sartajparveen2001]

​@@user-gy1oo5bj8s "their partner in crime"

[@abdiguhad5918]

When you terrorize innocent men just because you have power.

[@djamburere]

And call THEM terrorists...😢

[@YassirForbes]

Trust me the most courageous and rebellious people in this world are Afghans and am proud i could call them brothers

[@faisalsofiya1250]

Thanks and appreciation to Aljazeera news for standing with humanity.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching our film, dear Faisal. We appreciate your positive feedback!

[@faisalabdi6350]

The amount of injustice in this world is astounding. Justice is with the almighty allah.

[@HanifaZazai-ml8fg]

Thank you Moazzam for highlighting the dark reality that innocent afghan have faced.

[@abrarhashmi6025]

Some people talking about terrorism are not including ongoing Palestinians genocide... Shame on you

[@flaneur75013]

You cannot be included everywhere, other countries exist too. We have enough shit of our own but afghans and other Muslims and non-muslims still stood for Palestine as well so keep the blaming and shaming bullshit

[@arbaz79]

Not everything revolves around Arabs.The world is much bigger than Arabs.There are other countries too which are suffering.

[@sgtmajorparker4181]

what an inspiring and resilient man, love him and his courage...

[@nehalbaloch3096]

Moazzam Begg you are a hero a true Islam lover a true muslim brother

[@AquosRaid]

My eyes😢😞 tearing unconsciously, heart pains seeing the suffering and struggle of Afghan peoples , innocent prisoners .May Allah bring peace in Afghanistan and all over the world .Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰 to Afghan brothers ❤❤❤.

[@MUHAMMADASLAM-bt7df]

This man is Pakistani.. I don't know why people are calling him Afghan

[@user-ni6py3oe3c]

My heart aches watching these sort of documentaries

[@justicejustice9785]

After forty years of unprecedented sacrifices and the resilience of Taliban made Afghanistan a truly free Islamic country. This is a country now free from the shackles of Western powers, IMF and world bank. And with so many developmental projects now underway, this country will become a symbol and inspiration for many others trying to emancipate themselves from the clutches of Western imperialism.

[@yasminea7149]

Ameen

[@kingsman3087]

@@yasminea7149 90 percent world heroin IS a WMD that was worse than the 20-year war itself, a bad deed that cannot be forgotten on doj

[@rezafouad]

Ameen

[@sumairagul5297]

True indeed

[@vivejk4443]

lol wot. they are only surviving from middle eastern aid. if pakistan starts attacking they will come asking for help just like palestine

[@abdulrahimnorzai9305]

The USA is speaking about Justice 😅

[@ailmlvr5905]

Can you imagine what these people and their families went through. Thank you Al Jazeera for this beautiful piece

[@Hamdanfariid]

9:04 was heartbreaking, A man never cries specially an afghan.

[@amberlight5830]

I think he was a Pakistani not an Afghanistan citizen.

[@user-kx9jo4jv7y]

When will US and UK apologise regret their crimes?

[@droidhuman5742]

The imperial colonisers will never show remorse

[@NATEDOG001976]

We won't. You attacked us!

[@celestial_s]

No they didn't stop lying

[@celestial_s]

Their demons not human

[@Rijana953]

​@@NATEDOG001976Really?

[@blususpect]

This was so sad & beautiful, I’ve been following Moazzam Begg’s story for a little while now & to see him return to Afghanistan & see his old friends was truly emotional, I could almost feel it. His words at the end are words to live by, let go of hatred before it consumes you. InshAllah every single person who was unjustly imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay sees freedom.

[@mohammadomar169]

Now no one will be tortured in Bagram. Thank you brother Moazzem Beg.

[@sayedm7939]

"Echoes of Bagram" is more than a film; it is a poem etched in the sands of time, a haunting melody of freedom, a beacon for those still ensnared in the night. It leaves us weeping, not just for Moazzam, but for all voices silenced in the dark, all dreams deferred. Yet, amidst the tears, there blooms a hope, a prayer that from the depths of sorrow, may there arise a dawn of peace and justice.

[@kuttaamj]

Beautiful message!

[@anklefootcarecenterinc.7732]

No sum of money or mere apology could ever hope to adequately redress the deep scars of humiliation, mental torment, flagrant human rights violations, and the agonizing separation from cherished family members. Such profound suffering transcends earthly reparation; only divine intervention could begin to offer true solace. Witnessing the tears streaming down Brother Moazzem's face stirred a visceral response within me, as his anguish spoke volumes about the injustice he endured simply for upholding his beliefs.

[@xubairahmad6691]

May all the soul that are prisoners in any part of the world become free and reunite with their loved ones 😢

[@sajidumma]

the streets of Kabul look much better than places like New Delhi!!

[@hogman3543]

Yes my country has developed fast

[@vivejk4443]

keep dreaming

[@user-fl6jn1wb2t]

@@vivejk4443 its true, All countries are generally better than Indian including Thailand, Iran, Uzbekistan etc

[@wayu8334]

Kabul is neat and clean ..

[@Hojajullahjalal]

I was prisoner for two years in Bagram, the hard time that passed I will never forget😢.

[@laurita28061]

May Allah ta ala heal your heart and beware us all. Amin ya Rabb

[@disowali7285]

Begram should be preserve and be shown to future generations to show the democracy treat and look like

[@shaheedaessack6142]

May Allah bless the Majestic country of Afghanistan. Ameen.

[@iqrah90]

May Allah protect him 😢

[@shahjeeeeeeeeeeee562]

once again AL jaeera I love you. highly admire your journalism based on strong evidences and true facts. May Allah continue bring prosperity to your company.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thank you for taking the time to watch our documentary. We appreciate your positive feedback.

[@ramatgan1]

What the US has done to this world is horrendous.

[@sammynatal6471]

Remember, don’t relate your bad dreams to others. Relate your good dreams with someone who loves you.

[@Pan21335]

Justice for Afia 😢

[@laurita28061]

:(

[@bannedone3ice138]

Finally peace in Afghanistan after 5 decades. I pray to Allah they prosper and develop like any other country on earth. By the looks of it, they’re heading the right direction. Those with whom they’re allied nowadays, surely soon it will InShaAllah. Love and respect from Pakistan.

[@qayyaksmith3652]

Alhamdullilah, Ameen.

[@bannedone3ice138]

@@qayyaksmith3652 InShaAllah. I pray to Allah Afghanistan with its vast mineral wealth, will become very rich.

[@NATEDOG001976]

Peace with filthy smelly Taliban? Lol

[@abstract7073]

Kabul streets are cleaner than many cities I know. I am surprised y that. Don’t know what I expected.

[@pkaea]

This is an extremely important story to tell. I am amazed by the resilience of the former detainees. May God grant them justice and reward them for all the hardship they have endured. May God free the people still unjustly detained.

[@noorullah4624]

I had seen the cruelity of US soldiers before they left Afghanistan

[@hayatullahjan9710]

آپ لوگوں کی قربانی کا نتیجہ پُرامن افغانستان اسلامی حکومت تھا۔ رب العالمین نے کر دکھایا ۔

[@sammynatal6471]

This is why in Islam we don’t tell our bad dreams to anyone. Same thing happened to me.

[@arsalankhan-di7rz]

Aljazeera is best thing that happened to humanity in recent times. Thanks for all of your commitments.

[@Peace-ys6nt]

i have watched many clips of moazzam baig and never have i seen him cry despite all the hardships he and fellow prisoners faced on false charges, it is totally horrific how the system wrongly accuses many innocent people and the devastation it causes them and their families. may Allah help stop this oppression swiftly ameen

[@muslimah9237]

Inhumanity from west is in different paradigm.. Subhanallah..we live Asia so blindly abt these torture to Muslims ..😭😭💔🤲😞

[@faisalsofiya1250]

This is so saddening , it rips my heart. I do not know when will the humiliation end?

[@commontouch1787]

When Muslims stop accepting to be submissive to the West, it will happen surely

[@fozlulhoque4145]

Truth always triumphs over lies, America's leaders should see. Truth is victory

[@her23795]

These stories are all so sad but the one that breaks me every time is the taxi driver

[@umairsaeed4907]

Bless you my brother

[@zumunaco110]

Keeping a person without a trial or any valid allegation is a crime against humanity. How could the USA talk about rules based order ? Where is American humanity?

[@bb6uk05]

Goosebumps

[@NK-313]

Alhamdulillah Muhammad Rahim is back in Afghanistan.

[@camilakhalifa2397]

Thank you aljzeera. We will never forget.

[@usamaizm]

Only Allah can give us closure.

[@NATEDOG001976]

The pedophile?

[@Binte-Awan]

9:01 brought tears to my eyes 🥺 May Allah help him

[@Junaid_277]

Ya Allah Rahim ko Azadi de!

[@user-ys1lt1hb8g]

Thanks aljazeera ! Plz keep documenting

[@ahmadafghan9847]

الحمد لله على نعمة الإسلام❤❤❤❤❤

[@Zadran2024]

Thank you Am jazeera❤

[@ldahmy]

It's impressive how fluent he is in english, urdu or some sort of Afghani language and Arabic too.

[@luminescentboy3340]

he is british pakistani.

[@ldahmy]

@@luminescentboy3340 yeah still impressive he learned Arabic as well

[@zahidomari7881]

thank you aljazeera very much from kandahar afghanistan

[@mdamjadhossain2109]

Thanks❤ to Al Jazeera, for highlighting the plight and truth of the oppressed.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-np3hz1gm1s]

In 2004 I bought a Newsweek magazine in Afghanistan, there ,I found an article article about a Guantanamo bay inmate called Mohazam Big, whom I am watching now. I am very sorry for him and wish no one face his faith again .

[@strangetariq]

This whole war of lies and bloodshed has caused unimaginable destruction and suffering and will be forever remembered as a dark chapter in the history of humanity and Western imperialism.

[@abuobaida5673]

Great Documentary, Thanks Al Jazeera Team for revealing the truth. Keep it up for the oppressed people of the world. Love from India 🇮🇳 . Thanks 💝

[@Nature-speaks7777]

Great Afghanistan ❤from Pakistan

[@Citroentje141]

Oh God we have it so easy compared to other people in the world.. :(😢

[@user-zk5px8xu6e]

Wonderful content 👌 👏 amazing job aljasera ❤

[@ahmadTareen0]

I have no word the story really blow ur mind and scary...Allah grant us victory insha'Allah Thanks a lot Moazzam begg

[@MegaBeaumont]

Now Afghanistan is free.

[@user-gj8tl2zx4c]

Where did you hear that ?

[@VeryStrict]

as in free from civilization.

[@khanhamid3744]

As an Afghan I can confirm that. I get very emotional thinking about it. Only free nation on the planet is Afghanistan.

[@zakaullahtiwana1618]

​@@VeryStrict Take your civilization and keep it in your borders. We don't want your Bloodthirsty Vile Oppressive Deceptive Arrogant Dehumanizing Warmongering Genocidal Evil civilization.

[@her23795]

Finally free from occupation and American terrorism

[@sarkar6494]

What an amazing story and I cried throughout

[@thenomadicafghan4504]

My heart goes out to you!

[@abdallamalin9371]

All the oppressors will come the judgement day, and the judge is Allah Subhanuhu Wataalla

[@Desiklown]

wow this was the most powerful story i have seen in a long time

[@hali633]

The trauma u can see it all in his face.

[@user-by7uv6lz8h]

Its beautiful to see Arabic language is the connection. From China to America its our language, the language of Islam, lets all put the effort to learn it (even Arabs). See Fahad Al kinderi to get a deep and detail of his account, of imprisonment and torture in almost 20 episodes. This video just scratches the surface.

[@faridaali3218]

This documentary should be more about what US did to the people in the prison... It wasn't not documented well

[@user-jo8pc5gh3t]

Absolutely MUST watch….. Moazzam you inspire millions for your quest for justice…. After release we see you’ve not chosen a quiet life rather you’ve been at the frontline for peace and justice….. We SALUTE you sir.

[@EasyMerchMoney]

Moazzam Begg nothing but respect for you man.

[@KKaspersky313]

It's very inspirational and need more such documentaries about other innocent prisoners who suffered immensely in America's so called WOT.That can give us the true picture & expose these western imperist powers

[@kjmax1068]

24:49 beautiful man. I watched this story from day 1 and the horror of the kidnapping of innocents, imprisonments, the Guantanamo 12 documentary etc. So happy you came through it all. Obviously a lot did not. Peace to you all from New Zealand ❤

[@king-es6vg]

Goosebumps 😢😢

[@Alina-yq5nw]

Heartbreaking! The pain inflicted on this region by the farcicle war is incomprehensible.

[@faizahchy98]

I watched another documentary on this guy. He is a British of Pakistani origin who has been implicated on false charges in Pak by the then Pervez Mosaharraf's Government. This clearly implies that Pak government has committed severe levels of corruption upon the civilians like this one. Yet the civilians show continuos support to them.

[@workplace8605]

😢❤❤May Allah brung peace and freedom to you wll 😢❤❤❤

[@FaridKhan-nv3cm]

Heart broken story😢

[@husna8031]

This is so heartbreaking to watch. They are such men with the strongest faith in their souls. This why US and their western allies couldn't defeat Afghan fighters and the people. US gov is so shameful with what they have done Afghan people. And the fact that most of Afghan leaders now are ex-Guantanamo detainees, has made them lost their faces to recognise Afghanistan as an Islamic nation free from their imperialism. They are actually the real world terrorists and war mongers them selves who keep claiming Afghan leaders and people as the ones. With Allah's permit and help, Afghanistan will grow to be a great nation under Islamic rules insyaAllah. May Allah reward the ones who couldn't survive the tortures in the prison the highest jannah and reward the ones who survived great futures in this dunya and akhirah as well, aamiin...

[@amberlight5830]

Amen.