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FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE -- AN INNOCENT MAN IN GUANTANAMO |
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FOREWORD, by Patti Smith MURAT KURNAZ WAS ARRESTED IN THE WINTER OF 2001 in Peshawar, Pakistan, known as the "City of Flowers." The subsequent five years Murat spent as a detainee in the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval base, with no formal charge lodged against him, reflects a terrible flaw in our judicial system. In the case of Murat Kurnaz, the accuser had the greater power over the accused. This violation of the basic civil right to due process poses a great threat to our safety and stability as a free people. My reaction to his ordeal is one of a mother, as well as an artist and concerned citizen. Murat Kurnaz is the same age as my own son. I could only imagine the horror and frustration his mother experienced while attempting to penetrate the labyrinth of bureaucratic secrecy that surrounded Murat's internment. I considered deeply how I would feel if my own son languished in prison, detained for years of his life without formal charge, without trial. To compound the injustice, it was reported that most of the evidence held against Murat Kurnaz was found to be exculpatory. In truth, I had to consult my dictionary to understand the meaning of this word. I was shocked to learn it means that someone is free of guilt or blame. This information would have been a godsend to his family and council and should have enabled his quick release. Instead, Murat languished in prison for another four years, even after it became clear to both U.S. and foreign authorities that he was innocent. In the summer of 2006, after exhaustive negotiations on his behalf, Murat reclaimed his freedom. This long-awaited moment, his release after nearly five years of harsh detention, turned instead into a shocking continuation of his confinement. Muzzled and shackled for the duration of a seventeen-hour flight, Murat was returned to his homeland in the same manner one might transport a dangerous animal. The image of this young man, who had already experienced years of deprivation and humiliation, limping in chains drew from within me a deep sense of outrage. Yet this final dehumanizing act did not break Murat Kurnaz. He found the strength to meditate on these events in his memoir, to reclaim his individuality, to openly practice his faith, to once again ride a motorbike and listen to music. Though the crown of his youth was taken from him, he offers us his experiences unfettered by the poison of bitterness. When in prison Murat Kurnaz prayed for patience and strength. Surely the Most Excellent Protector shepherded him through his suffering, and the qualities that he prayed for will continue to illuminate his life. PATTI SMITH Without Chains
four long years
now I'm learning
born in Bremen
journeyed to Pakistan (Chorus)
no fault was found
now I'm learning
Patti Smith
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