Despite recent flurry of releases, prison still holds dozens of men cleared for release 5 years ago
January 9, 2015
Media Contact: Nancy Talanian, No More Guantánamos, ntalanian@nogitmos.org, 413-665-1150
NORTHAMPTON, MASS.—On Wednesday, January 14th, Pioneer Valley No More Guantánamos and Western New England University School of Law will host British investigative journalist, author, and blogger Andy Worthington at events in Springfield and Northampton. The programs coincide with actions and programs in Washington, DC, and around the world to mark the 13th anniversary of the prison at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, which opened on January 11, 2002.
In Springfield beginning at noon, Worthington will discuss “Closing Guantánamo and Seeking Accountability for Torture.” His talk in the Commons at Western New England University School of Law, 1215 Wilbraham Road, is organized by the National Lawyers Guild WNE chapter and includes a light lunch.
In Northampton at 7:00 p.m., Worthington’s topic will be “Guantánamo at 13: How Obama Can Close the Illegal Prison.” Local attorney Stewart ‘Buz’ Eisenberg will also speak about his seven Guantánamo clients whom he assisted with their habeas corpus cases. All seven men are now free. The talk at Northampton Friends Meetinghouse, 43 Center Street, is organized by Pioneer Valley No More Guantánamos.
Both programs are free, open to the public, and accessible. Worthington will also speak in Boston at The Old South Church on Monday, January 12th at 6:30 p.m. and at Harvard Law School on Tuesday, January 13th at 12:30 p.m.
Worthington has researched and written about Guantánamo Bay Prison since 2006. He cofounded the Close Guantánamo campaign and the recently launched We Stand with Shaker Campaign. He authored the book The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison and co-directed the documentary Outside the Law: Stories from Guantánamo. His website, www.andyworthington.co.uk, features regular blogs about Guantánamo. His articles have been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera.
In recent months, the Obama administration has stepped up releases of Guantánamo detainees who were cleared for release by a task force in January 2010. Although the releases are a hopeful sign, dozens of cleared men from Yemen face obstacles that may prevent them from ever reuniting with their families—if they are ever released. A moratorium on sending any of the men back to Yemen means that third countries must be found to accept the Yemeni prisoners. The Yemeni moratorium and some members of Congress have slowed progress toward President Obama’s stated goal of closing Guantánamo Bay Prison.
Today 127 men continue to be held at Guantánamo Bay prison; 59 have been cleared for transfer.