Ep 9. Out Of Gitmo/Forever Prison

In Frontline season 35 episode 9 titled "Out of Gitmo/Forever Prison," the show takes a deep dive into the ongoing issue of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The episode focuses on the stories of several men who have been held at Guantanamo for years without trial and explores the legal and ethical implications of their indefinite detention.

The episode begins by introducing us to Tariq Ba Odah, a Yemeni man who has been held at Guantanamo for over a decade. Ba Odah began a hunger strike in 2007 to protest his detention and was force-fed by prison authorities for many years. He has since been cleared for release by the US government, but due to various bureaucratic and geopolitical hurdles, remains at Guantanamo.

We also hear from other current and former Guantanamo detainees, including the Kuwaiti national Fawzi al-Odah, who was released after 14 years without charge, and the Libyan Abdelhakim Belhadj, who was never officially held at Guantanamo but was nonetheless subjected to torture and rendition by the US government.

The documentary also delves into the legal and political debates surrounding Guantanamo. We hear from lawyers who argue that the continued detention of these men without trial is a violation of their human rights, as well as from government officials who argue that the detainees are a security risk and must be kept locked up.

In addition, the episode explores the complex web of international relations that have contributed to the ongoing existence of Guantanamo. We learn about the role of the US government in pressuring other countries not to accept released detainees, as well as the political obstacles that have prevented the closure of the detention center.

Throughout the episode, we are confronted with the moral and ethical dilemmas presented by Guantanamo. Is it justifiable to detain people indefinitely without trial in the name of national security? What is the responsibility of the US government to those who have been cleared for release but remain in detention? And how can we balance the need for security with the principles of justice and human rights?

Ultimately, "Out of Gitmo/Forever Prison" serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses at Guantanamo and the urgent need for change. Through the stories of the men who have been held there, the documentary forces us to confront the moral complexities of our own government's actions and to confront the uncomfortable truths about the ongoing legacy of the war on terror.