My son’s first direct action: Making cards for Guantanamo Bay Hunger Strikers

Dear Friends,

Have you ever doubted the power of a letter? 

If so, read this note Amnesty received from Sami al Haj, who was held at Guantanamo without charge for years and finally transferred home to Sudan in 2008:

“I received more than 20,000 letters from members and supporters of Amnesty International during my last two years at Guantánamo Bay. These letters really encouraged me during my very difficult time. They made me feel as though I was not alone and not to give up. Also, I felt and could notice that from all these letters, the Administration of Guantánamo Bay changed and improved towards me, as they knew I was not alone and I had people who cared about me. The guards said to me that they could see I was someone who mattered and must be important because of all the letters–this made them respect me more.”

Today, after 111 days of the hunger strike and 11 years of indefinite detention, messages of hope are more important than ever. Can you spare a moment to write?

It's quick, easy and effective, here's how:

The list below provides names and details of  Guantanamo detainees to whom messages of solidarity–postcards, cards or letters–may be sent.  These have been selected on the basis of 
receiving consent from their lawyers to do so.

Younous Chekkouri, for example, would love pictures of flowers, especially roses, as he enjoys drawing them.

Where we have the information, we have noted that the person is on hunger strike.  Bear in mind that others on the list may also be on hunger strike, but we do not have that information at the present time. We have included details for some detainees where we have it (provided by the attorneys) which you may find useful for your messages.  Where we have included the information "approved for transfer," this is taken from the official US government list of detainees who have been classified as such.

• Messages should be kept to simple messages of greeting and goodwill.  Do not include political comments.
• Only send non-religious cards, and avoid referring to religion in your message.  For example: rather than writing "you are in our prayers", write "you are in our thoughts."
• Include your name and address (including country) in your message.  If you receive a reply, please send a copy to me.
• Write your message in simple English, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Address to which messages should be sent:

Detainee name and ISN number
Camp Delta
US Naval Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
Washington DC 20355
USA

Please let me know if you were able to write, so that we can keep a tally.

Name	Nationality	Date of birth	Languages for messages	Details	Transferred to GTMO
Umar Abdulayev  [ISN 257]	Tajik	11 October 1978	Russian, Farsi or simple English	Approved for transfer	2002
Hisham Sliti  [ISN 174]	Tunisian	2 December 1966	English, Arabic, French or Italian	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer	2002
Shaker Aamer  [ISN 239]	Saudi Arabian (British resident)	12 December 1968	English or Arabic	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer Last remaining British resident Has never seen his youngest son	2002
Ismail Ali Farag al – Bakush [ISN 708]	Libyan	1 July 1968	English or Arabic	Approved for transfer	2005
Sanad Ali al-Kazimi  [ISN 1453]	Yemeni	17 February 1970	English or Arabic	On hunger strike Approved for transfer	2004
Samir Mukbel  [ISN 43]	Yemeni	1 December 1977	Arabic or English	On hunger strike.   “I am now 35.  All I want is to see my family again and to start a family of my own…I just hope that because of the pain we are suffering, the eyes of the world will once again look to Guantánamo before it is too late.” 14/04/13	2002
Mohsen Aboassy  [ISN 91]	Yemeni	1 January 1979	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Enjoys reading about football Likes pics of nature, esp from magazines like National Geographic	2002
Said bin Salman  [ISN 251]	Yemeni	25 April 1975	Arabic or English	On hunger strike.	2002
Adel al Hakeemy  [ISN 168]	Tunisian	27 March 1965	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer Exercises and reads daily, hopes to own a restaurant one day	2002
Younous Chekkouri  [ISN 197]	Moroccan	5 April 1968	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Enjoys drawing, esp roses, would love pics of flowers	2002
Abdullatif Nasser  [ISN 244]	Moroccan	4 March 1965	Arabic or English	On hunger strike.	2002
Nabil Hadjarab [ISN 238]	Algerian	21 July 1979	French	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer Dreams of raising a family in France	2002
Ahmed Belbacha  [ISN 290]	Algerian	13 November 1969	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer Likes to play football	2002
Ali al Shaaban  [ISN 327]	Syrian	6 March 1982	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer	2002
Jihad Dhiab  [ISN 722]	Syrian	10 July 1971	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer	2002
Ahmed Abdulaziz  [ISN 757]	Mauritanian	24 February 1970	Arabic or English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer	2002
Saifullah Paracha [ISN 1094]	Pakistani	17 August 1947	English	On hunger strike. History of multiple health issues, has suffered 3 heart attacks while in GTMO.  Studied/lived in NY for over a decade	2004
Abdul Sabour  [ISN 275]	Uighur	1 January 1974	Uighur or basic English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer, cannot return home for fear of torture	2002
Khalid Ali  [ISN 280]	Uighur	27 July 1977	Uighur or basic English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer, cannot return home for fear of torture	2002
Sabir Osman  [ISN 282]	Uighur	1 January 1974	Uighur or basic English	On hunger strike. Approved for transfer, cannot return home for fear of torture	2002

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please also continue to press President Obama to respect the human rights of Guantanamo detainees: sign the petition at www.amnestyusa.org/closeit, write a letter to the White House and call the White House comment line at202.456.1111

Best,

Zeke

Zeke Johnson
Director, Security with Human Rights Campaign
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Amnesty International USA
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