This is the interrogation log of Mohammed al-Qahtani. It was published in real time: each entry appearing exactly eight years after it was first recorded. It has run for the last two years. The interrogation took place at Guantanamo Bay.
The site will shortly begin publishing the interrogation log of Mohammed Al-Qahtani again from the beginning in real time , as I said it would if the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay remained open today. As of November, , and plans to deal with them and close it have stalled in the face of political opposition.
The site will be updating an , a and .
The detainee arrives at the interrogation booth at Camp X-Ray. His hood is removed and he is bolted to the floor. SGT A and SGT R are the interrogators. A DoD linguist and MAJ L (BSCT) are present.
Session begins. The detainee refuses to look at SGT A “due to his religion. This is a rapport building session.
Detainee states he’s on hunger strike. SGT A explains the affects of a hunger strike on the body. SGT A runs “love of brothers in Cuba” approach.
The detainee refused to answer whether he wanted water. SGT R explained with emphasis that not answering disrespects SGT A and embarrasses him. The detainee said no, he didn’t want water. The detainee continues to say he’s on hunger strike.
The detainee dozed off during a break. SGT R woke him up.
SGT R wakes up detainee again.
Interrogators take a break. Detainee goes to the bathroom.
Interrogation resumes. The detainee refuses food and water.
SGT A begins 9/11 theme. The detainee asks to pray and is refused.
Detainee drinks _ bottle of water and states after this he is on strike, he refuses food.
Interrogators take break to discuss theme.
Interrogation resumes. SGT A continues with 9/11 theme.
SGT R emphasized his frustration over detainees refusal to speak. SGT R denies detainees request to pray.
Detainee requests to go to the bathroom.
Detainee returns from bathroom break. He refuses a meal and states he is on hunger strike.
Detainee states he will eat meal, but after that he’s going on hunger strike, one hand is uncuffed to allow him to eat.
Detainee finishes meal and states again he is going on hunger strike. The detainee ate the entire MRE plus an extra cereal bar.
SGT A continues with 9/11 theme.
Detainee given 2 hours of rest. Interrogations will resume at 1030.
Observations – Detainee attempts to control the interrogation by complaining about his treatment, his mental illness, and his separation from his brothers in Cuba. When shown articles of 9/11, the detainee looked at pictures attentively. The detainee was repeatedly told that he is a man, and part of being a man is accepting responsibility for your actions. Whenever the detainee said that “it is God’s will for him to be sitting in front of me, having to acknowledge and accept responsibility for his actions. The detainee went as far as to state that his religion forbids him to even speak to a woman.
The detainee is awakened and secured in chair. The interrogators are ENS C and IS1 E. A DoD linguist is present. The detainee is offered to use the restroom. The detainee is taken to the bathroom. The detainee then was starring at the floor for several minutes. When ENS C asked “what is on your mind” the detainee looked at the interrogator and began talking a lot about how unfair his situation was.
The detainee asked if it was time to pray and was told not yet. The detainee then began asking what month it is. When not given an answer he persisted and then became quiet for about 10 minutes and then began again to engage in some conversation.
The detainee began to shut down and not respond. He said that he would not speak at all.
Break
Interrogators returned and told the detainee it would be 20 minutes and then time to pray.
Detainee given opportunity to pray.
Lunch. Detainee refused to eat. At first he said he would eat, but then said that he was mentally not well and had only agreed because he was not thinking clearly.
Detainee was shown 9/11 video. The detainee did watch without exhibiting any emotion. The detainee averted eyes from the photos of the hijackers.
Read names of captured and killed AQ. The detainee stared off but was listening and closed his eyes when he heard some of the names of the dead.
Break
The detainee engaged in conversation regarding family and dreams. He asked why the interrogator was causing him pain talking of family and things he could not have. The detainee began to cry.
Detainee requested and was given a bathroom break. Detainee returned hardened.
Detainee spoke and said it has been a hard long day, also that he is on a hunger and talking strike.
Detainee is offered food and water. He stated he was on a hunger strike. Food and water was provided anyway and placed next to him.
Manchester Document was presented to the detainee. The detainee reacted when the description of an AQ operative was brought up.
Detainee was asked if he would like to go the bathroom and if he wanted to nap.
Circumstantial evidence was explained to the detainee. The Detainee stared at all of the documents and was visibily shaken. He seemed disturbed that the AQ leadership was talking, the detainee didn’t say anything but he was making noticeable facial expressions.
Detainee was told that he failed in his mission to the United States and in the Jihad in Afghanistan he again showed a facial response of failure.
Break
Returned from break.
The detainee started speaking when told about the Koran and being judged by Allah and that leaders of AQ twisted the words. The detainee spoke very emotionally . SGT B asked to explain how this came about. Why he is the only one holding on and everyone else is speaking . SGT B stated “don’t worry about a military judge worry about Allah, the Koran doesn’t say kill the innocent. Make things right, repent.”
Detainee cried. He wants to be taken back to Delta and he will talk. He was told that he had to earn his way back to Delta.
Break
Returned from break. SGT B told the detainee “I want to help and I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” Detainee became unresponsive.
Break. Detainee used restroom and was allowed to sleep.
Return from break. Detainee awakened and taken to restroom then secured in chair.
Detainee unresponsive.