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تصویر بندانگشتی

Ex-GITMO Prisoner: “My World Was Very Small”

“I was looking at the moon from the window of the cell where I was imprisoned,” said Obaidullah, a former Taliban member, who was released last week from the Guantanamo Bay detention center and reintegrated with his family in Khost province after nearly two decades of separation. 

Obaidullah, now 36, was just eighteen years old when he was detained and he has spent nearly half of his life in US custody.

“I was associated with the Taliban only for a short period of time. I was serving in the Taliban’s military section, therefore I was arrested by the American forces,” the former Taliban member told TOLOnews’ Sharif Amiri.
 

“I was associated with the Taliban only for a short period of time. I was serving in the Taliban’s military section, therefore I was arrested by the American forces,” the former Taliban member told TOLOnews’ Sharif Amiri.

“They (US forces) imposed on us the most brutal acts during our detention as if we were the most dangerous criminals--I had no hope that someday I would rejoin my family,” said Osman, Obaidullah’s cousin who was also released from the US jail after three months from Bagram prison.

Obaidullah’s family said that his release was a dream for them.

“We had no information about Obaidullah for two and half years, however, there were some rumors in the media that he was transferred to Guantanamo prison, but we received a letter from him after two and half a years, then the letters started coming from him more regularly with the help of ICRC and then we started having online calls,” said Mohammad Akram, Obaidullah’s brother.
 

Obaidullah was eighteen years old when he was arrested by US forces.

Obaidullah became the father of a baby girl only three days before his arrest. However, he was always living with her memories in the jail.

“I want my children to go to school and study, because we cannot achieve development without learning. Afghanistan needs its children to study and become educated,” said Obaidullah.

Ex-GITMO Prisoner: “My World Was Very Small”

Obaidullah was eighteen years old when he was arrested by US forces, now he is 36.

تصویر بندانگشتی

“I was looking at the moon from the window of the cell where I was imprisoned,” said Obaidullah, a former Taliban member, who was released last week from the Guantanamo Bay detention center and reintegrated with his family in Khost province after nearly two decades of separation. 

Obaidullah, now 36, was just eighteen years old when he was detained and he has spent nearly half of his life in US custody.

“I was associated with the Taliban only for a short period of time. I was serving in the Taliban’s military section, therefore I was arrested by the American forces,” the former Taliban member told TOLOnews’ Sharif Amiri.
 

“I was associated with the Taliban only for a short period of time. I was serving in the Taliban’s military section, therefore I was arrested by the American forces,” the former Taliban member told TOLOnews’ Sharif Amiri.

“They (US forces) imposed on us the most brutal acts during our detention as if we were the most dangerous criminals--I had no hope that someday I would rejoin my family,” said Osman, Obaidullah’s cousin who was also released from the US jail after three months from Bagram prison.

Obaidullah’s family said that his release was a dream for them.

“We had no information about Obaidullah for two and half years, however, there were some rumors in the media that he was transferred to Guantanamo prison, but we received a letter from him after two and half a years, then the letters started coming from him more regularly with the help of ICRC and then we started having online calls,” said Mohammad Akram, Obaidullah’s brother.
 

Obaidullah was eighteen years old when he was arrested by US forces.

Obaidullah became the father of a baby girl only three days before his arrest. However, he was always living with her memories in the jail.

“I want my children to go to school and study, because we cannot achieve development without learning. Afghanistan needs its children to study and become educated,” said Obaidullah.

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