KICKER: Fear factor
Fear deters future militants!
Centres such as Guantanamo Bay are necessary evils, which are required in the war against terrorism. Such detention facilities, although unethical, help create a fear in the mind of present and would-be terrorists. Detaining high-profile terrorists also disrupts the operations of the various terror organisations. If the masterminds and facilitators are behind bars, then it gets much harder for the group to execute its plans.
GTMO help gather intelligence from the detainees, which assists in thwarting current and future plans of the militant organizations. Such intelligence helps the US in planning anti-terrorism strategies and policies, which ultimately reduce the number of terrorist acts committed. Intelligence gathered from the detainees could also help in capturing high-profile terrorists. Thousands of innocent lives have been saved due to the intelligence that has been gathered at Guantanamo Bay.
If the detainees from GTMO and other such centres were to be released they would most likely return to terrorism. The high profile detainees have been radicalised to such an extent that years of separation from the rest of the world would not stop them from taking up arms again. The detainees would most likely return to their groups and execute their wicked campaigns with amplified aggression due to the revenge that they would seek for all the years of detention. This would cause unnecessary deaths of innocents, which can be prevented if the terrorists are kept detained.
If Guantanamo Bay and other such detention centres were to be closed down, it would definitely embolden terrorists around the world. The facility serves as a place of fear and deterrent due to the stories that float out of it. If one of the biggest fears is removed from terrorists’ minds, then there will not be much that will deter them from claiming innocent lives and ruining peace in the world.
From Ms Pranita Masand
Recruitment consultant based in Dubai
KICKER: Breaking point
GTMO serves as a source for radicalism!
Guantanamo Bay or GTMO has always been a breaking point for discussions on terrorism. Ever since 9/11, a number of detainees have cited inhumane conditions and repression of every human right including torture.
Seemingly, this facility has been and continues to be insulated from the outside world with no United Nation law applicable to it. As a result, this feeds radical ideologies and spurs sensitivity within a large number of the young Muslim population, whilst also serving as a source for Jihadist movements. The US government has fallen back on its promises umpteen times to close the centre and bring in reforms, however, six years later and the centre continues its operations.
People are no longer deterred by the outcomes of terrorist groups but are instead willingly signing up for a so called ‘martyrdom’. Whether or not the centre should be closed remains a divided topic.
Ideally, instead of shrouding the place in secrecy, the US Government must allow for transparency of all interrogations and rehabilitating the detainee procedure, as to a certain degree that would show the world that GTMO is committed to act as a deterrent to all terrorist activity and is not a reason to spawn radicalism.
From Mr Gregory Gomes
Customer service officer based in Dubai
KICKER: Medium
Society needs to help people re-integrate
To a large extent, centres such as Guantanamo Bay act as a catalyst in further developing terrorism. We are placing together a group of people who share the same criminal ideology in one place. In turn, this will only breed more hatred and then, they will continue to exchange terrible ideas and information, which will benefit them when they regroup after if/when they are released. We have seen this at Camp Bucca in Iraq, wherein inmates have used it as a base to plan future attacks in Iraq. In fact, it is the place where Daesh was nurtured under the helm of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, now leader of Daesh. We have also seen several similar cases in Afghanistan whereby inmates who have been released from such centres have re-joined their group and continued with their militant activities. Thus, instead of controlling them, we are just providing a medium for them to vent their frustration and radicalise even further.
Indefinite detention without a trial needs to be addressed to avoid the recurrence of such problems. Majority of the detainees report psychological and emotional trauma when they are released from such centres. What these people need is rehabilitation so that they can re-integrate within mainstream society. We need to have a mechanism through which we can rehabilitate people with minor convictions in centres. If more efforts are put into educating them and providing them a way to earn their living lawfully, it will definitely bring a stop the problem.
From Mr Aravind V. Kumar
Flight operations controller based in Dubai
KICKER: Globalisation
A need to look at alternatives
In the past, militant activity was limited to countries or regions that were undergoing significant political, social or economic strife. However, with increased globalisation, ease of travel and the development of cyber terrorism, everyone is under the constant threat of attack. Thus, it is understandable, while inexcusable, that countries would establish centres such as Guantanamo Bay in order to obtain information and prevent future attacks. In my opinion, Guantanamo Bay does more to foster rather than deter terrorism. The desire to protect one’s life and family is understandable however, the means should be as important as the end.
The facility deliberately located in Cuba so as to prevent the US constitution and laws from dictating what happens in the centre.
Thus, it continues to be the site of human right and legal violations. Detainees are disrespected, are occasionally tortured and water boarded for information and have had their legal rights violated several times. While the facility has proven effective in stopping some attacks, there are more effective solutions. I believe that an alternative facility within the US would not only prevent harm to national security, but would prevent fundamental human rights violations because the prisoners would then be subject to inspection and to the constitution of the country. A native facility can use federal courts for prosecutions since they have proven more effective than military courts. Furthermore, closing such a facility will also show potential militants that the US does care about human rights and might deter future attacks against the country.
From Aayush Agarwal
Student based in Dubai
KICKER: Hypocrisy
“Violence breeds violence”
It is my opinion that detention centres like Guantanamo Bay encourage extremism. I have read about the idea of people who go into Guantanamo Bay innocent and come out as militants. It would be difficult to withhold resentment towards such a facility after going through such unnecessary trauma. The document that was released on the illegal torture in the detention centre – although torture at all is illegal under international law – only shows the severity of the conditions that these people are going through. Many of them haven’t been proven guilty of anything.
Violence will only breed more violence. I feel like the illegal actions taken by the US government towards Guantanamo Bay prisoners are unintentionally brainwashing them against their own cause - to increase national security. These people are coming out of Guantanamo Bay and they are angry and they have stories to tell. How could this possibly go well?
Of course, it is important to come down hard on militants, but they need to be proven guilty. If we intend to set an anti-anarchical precedent, should we not lead by example, follow international law and hand out punishment only where crime is undeniably committed? It all seems rather hypocritical and ineffective in the end.
From Mr Mustafa Al Zoubaydi
Medical student based in Gdansk, Poland
Facebook comments:
The shocking details of what these detainees have been put through at the Guantanamo Bay are interesting to read. The world has forgotten these men who are still being held behind bars. The special in-depth report by Gulf News ‘Behind the Wire’ is an eye - opener. It provides details on the forms of abuse and torture that are still exercised against prisoners long after US President Obama ordered the closure of the unit. There will be many who have no case against them and are still living in cells hoping to be released some day. The efforts of Gulf News in highlighting the present state of affairs in this notorious jail are highly commendable.
From Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Compiled Donia Jenabzadeh/Community Web Editor
