Colorado Progressive

This is Omar Deghayes. I first heard of him yesterday, and I rather suspect both the British and the U.S. governments wish we weren’t talking about him. I wish we weren’t talking about him.

Deghayes is a Libyan-born British citizen, a lawyer who worked on humanitarian issues in Kabul, married an Afghan woman, and then fled with his family to Pakistan when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan after 9/11. Lahore, Pakistan, was peaceful, for a while. Then the Americans turned up the heat, and Pakistani forces began arresting Muslims who had been to Afghanistan. Deghayes was seized in 2002; he was interrogated, tortured, and detained. “Deghayes languished in Guantánamo for nearly six years. He was never charged or convicted of anything, by any authority.”

Then, in December, 2007, he was released. No charges. No military tribunal. No terror trial. Nothing. Because, of course, Omar Deghayes had never done anything wrong.

Deghayes is suing the British government for illegal rendition and collusion with the U.S. The British government vigorously denies any wrongdoing. Omar Deghayes appears to be living evidence to the contrary.

Outlook’s Matthew Bannister interviewed Deghayes yesterday, and the account is chilling. Listen here.