If You’re Old Enough to Be Tortured, You’re Old Enough to Sue for Being Tortured
One-time child Guantanamo Bay inmate of Mohammed Jawad -- he’s believed to be 21 years old, though it’s unclear, and was detained for about seven years -- was
Jul 31, 2020117.9K Shares5.3M Views
One-time child Guantanamo Bay inmate of Mohammed Jawad — he’s believed to be 21 years old, though it’s unclear, and was detained for about seven years— was returned home to Afghanistan earlier this week. (As The Associated Press put it, a military judge ruled he had been “coerced into confessing to wounding United States soldiers with a grenade.”) What’s the first thing he plans to do? Adam Serwer talks to his lawyer in Kabul:
“„Lawyers for Mohammed Jawad, the Afghan national who was a minor when he was first detainedby the U.S. government and was recently releasedto Afghanistan after spending seven years in detention based on evidence gained through torture, intend to sue the U.S. government in part to prevent torture from being ever used again.
“„Speaking from Kabul, Maj. Eric Montalvo, Jawad’s military commissions defense lawyer, said that “From a policy standpoint, it’s a disincentive for the United States to engage in that type of conduct…you have punitive damages, you have a lawsuit that creates precedent…and it may create a pause for the U.S. government should they decide to do this in the future.”
In light of the claims about Guantanamo “recidivism,” who’ll be the first to claim that Jawad’s lawsuit represents an act of war by other means?
Dexter Cooke
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Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
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