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UN human rights council details mistreatment of Guantanamo Bay detainees, calls for closure – JURIST

The UN Sunday described the treatment of detainees at Guantánamo Bay as “worrying” and called for the closure of the detention facility “without further delay.” The comments came in a newly released report from the UN Human Rights Council which outlined “systematic shortcomings in medical expertise, equipment, treatment, and accommodations” at Guantánamo Bay.The report was first transmitted to the UN Human Rights Council on January 11 by a group of independent human rights experts. But the report was not released to the public until this past weekend.The report specifically examined the detention of Abd Al-Hadi Al-Iraqi, also known as Nashwan al-Tamir, who is one of the last prisoners held as a part of the CIA detention program. While in prison, Al-Iraqi suffered from a degenerative spinal condition, which caused him to now rely upon a wheelchair and walker to get around. The UN experts described this as medical mistreatment.In addition to the report, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights produced a report in January detailing how seven Guantánamo Bay detainees committed suicide between 2002 and 2021. The report also detailed Guantánamo Bay’s “unparalleled notoriety” for the use of “torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments” against detainees.US President Joe Biden announced in February 2021 press briefing that his administration would close Guantánamo Bay before he left office. Despite the promise, the Biden administration has taken no further action towards closing the facility.