The Portraits of Gitmo Detainees

Omar Ali Al Madoonee, 30
Arrested while trying to cross the border from Afghanistan to Pakistan, Al Madoonee was one of the first prisoners to be taken to Guantanamo, where he spent six-1/2 years. The Americans say he trained at an Al Qaeda camp. He acknowledged that he did stay at a camp, but only briefly and with no specific designs on the United States. Of his time in detention, he says, "I was tortured both physically and mentally. They cut off my beard, since they knew it would irritate all Muslims, and gave me electric shock treatment to get me to talk. They transferred me from Kandahar to Guantanamo, where I spent more than 6 years, and to this day I have no idea why." Photo taken February 2, 2009.

• Defending the Detainees