Letters from Guantánamo

by Mansoor Adayfi, Antonio Aiello, Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

In weeks after the September 11 attacks, 18-year-old Mansoor Adayfi was kidnapped by Afghan militia and sold to US forces for bounty money. After months of interrogations, he was sent to the US military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, as one of its first prisoners. Like the nearly 800 other men imprisoned at Guantanamo, Adayfi didn’t know why he was imprisoned or for how long. He had never seen a skyscraper and couldn’t imagine what the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center looked like, much less how they were destroyed.

At one point during his first days at Guantánamo, he was instructed to write a letter to his family. He knew interrogators would use whatever he wrote as leverage against him, so he wrote a fake letter to his family. That small act of rebellion made him feel human again and allowed him to address his captors in a way he couldn’t during interrogations. So Adayfi continued to write to his captors disguised as letters to the outside world. He wrote to the pope, space aliens, President Obama, Men’s Health Journal, the Founding Fathers, Martin Luther King, Jr., Donald Trump, and many, many others.

In this three-act production, we experience Adayfi’s coming of age and transformation from a willful and sardonic teenager accused of being an Al-Qaeda general into a hardened resistance fighter to a mature student and artist released after 15 years of imprisonment without ever being charged with a crime. In the story’s epilogue, Adayfi, now freed, finds catharsis by writing one final letter back to Guantánamo. Inspired and encouraged by Adayfi, others whose lives were turned upside down by Guantánamo write their own letters, including families of former prisoners, attorneys, CIA analysts, and former prisoners.

This unforgettable Audible Original brings you close to all the things that make us human—despair, humor, imagination, and an unwavering will to thrive in the most unimaginable circumstances.

Genres: Audiobook, History, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography

Audiobook

Published May 9, 2024

Reviews

[Bianca Pungartnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and engaging listen on Audible. The narration was well done, and it was interesting to hear someone's firsthand account of their time in Guantanamo.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"They don't see us as humans, they see us as monsters and terrorists. But I ask you this, what is a terrorist?"

[Jennifer Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy listen.

It is a despairing tiny insight about the abuse and torture these men, supposed terrorists, endured. Many have not been tried or convicted. Many died. Many were not told what terroristic crimes they were charged with to land them in Guantanomo.

There were multiple reports speculating that Obama (2009-2017) would close Guantanomo. However, as recent as June 2024, there were still detainees in there.

Mansoor Adayfi, known as detainee 441, was 18 when he was kidnapped by the Aghani militia and sold to the US forces and put into Guantanomo. He and 800 other men were imprisoned there. He was eventually released after 15 years.

While this narrative of his experience was absolutely bleak, horrible, and discouraging, there are glimmers of hope, humanity, and incredible determination to mentally persevere in the face of hatred and discrimination.

[Hatim Qa · Rating 5 out of 5]

من الكتب الي سهل تقرأها وتنتهي منها في جلسة أو جلستين.. رسائل كتبها أحد من انسجنوا وتعذبوا ظلما في غوانتنامو كان يكتبها لكل شخص مستعد يسمع، سمعته ككتاب صوتي وكانت أول مرة أسمع كتاب صوتي القارئ فيها يقرأه بآكسنت عربي.. إنتاج ممتاز لكتاب مضحك وسوداوي في نفس الوقت.

[Sharon Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart wrenching collection of letters written by a prisoner in Guantánamo who was wrongly imprisoned. So many people lost their lives there, many didn't get out. The amount of letters not even sent made me sad, he began to write to people who could help, famous people, knowing they wouldn't be sent. Through all of our, he never lost himself. My heart broke for him finding out all the negative things that happened while he was imprisoned. An eye opener!

[AttackGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. A little back story about why they picked him up and the details of why he was there to begin with.

I was okay with all his comments until the comments about President Trump which just showed complete manipulative ignorance. He learned very quickly how to throw his waste, use women and the founding constitution against people to manipulate them but of course that was all he had and learned to use it to his advantage.

Compare what the “church” did to people compared to what is still being done today…. Has anything changed.

[Lexi Sølvhammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

With his well formulated writing this author takes the reader’s trough an entire register of emotions.

Even though it’s sad circumstances the author is reporting to he has a great sense of humor and will bring a smile to your lips ever now and then.

A great and well written book about inhumanity, hate, fear, hope and strength

This book is definitely a 5 + star read where the only complaint could be it was read to fast as it’s almost impossible to stop listening/reading.

*This review is placed on multiple platforms.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not want to listen to this book because I knew I would be outraged and sad but it made a list of great books of the year and then, Letters from Guantanamo is an Audible Original. But I have a file of outrageous and shameful Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo articles, one shame of American history about which probably nothing is taught in enough American history classes (banned or excised from the public record) (or reframed: "Hitler did a lot of good things, you know--DT; and "slavery did a lot for the slaves, they learned a lot of skills there"), and have read a few memoirs that have thankfully been published. So, yes, we still have a free press willing to tell the truth, ugly and disgusting as it may be. So I listened to it and over all thought it was pretty powerful.

I had never read Don't Forget About Me by the same author, Manoor Adayfi, of which I imagine this is to be a kind of adaptation.

I didn't initially like the lively jokey tone of this memoir/drama: "I'm going to take you into the infamous Guantanamo Prison, but I promise you will not be waterboarded, I'll protect you." Heh. I know waterboarding unfortunately became a kind of cultural joke, but I winced to hear a Yemeni guy who had spent 14 years in this prison, 18-32 years old, beaten, tortured, in isolation, force-fed on hunger strikes, try to lighten the mood for us. Not funny, I thought.

But then this kid, known as Smiley, is smart, articulate, savvy, and manages to outlast his captors, has a way of not giving in to humiliation and fear--he jokes at the most surprising times!--who came as many of his fellow prisoners, as a teen, sold as a hostage to the US military, with no background in politics and certainly not in terrorism. He had never seen a skyscraper let alone bomb one. No, he had no idea who Osama bin Laden was. How do we know this? They were never charged, and some of his captors here write letters of apology, in shame at the end of the book. The story, set up as a three-act play, is comprised of a series of sometimes ludicrous letters Adayfi wrote to aliens, Men's Health, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, his family, and so on, none of them allowed to be sent. He is eventually freed, even gets to college post-prison, expressing no bitterness, though still seeking justice.

It's well-written, graphic, painful to hear, and important. It makes clear what we even knew then: If you torture people, they will tell you whatever you want to hear. And almost none of the prisoners there were ever accused of any crimes after many years. Shameful period in American history. His story reveals he is an admirable person with keen insights; even if you are skeptical, if you think you wouldn't quite trust him post 9/11 because he is a Yemeni Muslim, or whatever, your skepticism will be worn down, and besides, many accounts support his testimony. He restores the faith in humanity you might lose as you read of the horrors there.

[Fleeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

18 year old Mansoor Adayfi moved from Yemen to Afghanistan to try and get an education. But in the weeks following 9/11 he found himself kidnapped, sold to the Americans, and eventually a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay. Eventually he discovers the Americans think he knows Osama Bin Laden and helped orchestrate 9/11, despite the fact he has never even seen a sky scraper. When Mansoor is encouraged to write letters to his family he knows they are looking for information so instead he writes letters to public figures - Martin Luther King, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, the Pope. And this is how he passes the next 15 years of his imprisonment while he waits to be charged (spoiler, he was never charged).
There are many things you can say about Guantanamo. There are multiple reports of human rights violations and torture tactics. There have been only 8 convictions and 4 have been overturned (because you can't trust confessions which were given under torture). 9 people have died there, meaning more people have died than have been convicted of any crime. 730 people have been released from detention and 40 are still being held, without charge. From the very begining the USA paid people in very poor, recently invaded countries for names and people associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and unsurprisingly what they got was mainly young naive men (and maybe a couple of people in the know mixed in). It's a huge waste of money and resources. It is quite bluntly an abomination.
Despite the cruel treatment, lies, lack of basic human rights and due legal process, Mansoor was commited to educating himself. He taught himself English, applied to universities in preparation for his release, he worked to make life better for himself and his fellow prisoners, and most importantly he shows a huge amount of compassion and insight into the political situation. The fact that Mansoor can separate the American people from the government and find compassion and hope is honestly astounding. By chance I found his parole application online and the notes from referees paint the picture of a sweet, funny, and community minded individual, so it is little wonder he continues to campaign for the closure of Guantanamo. One of his final letters to the centre itself is heart-warming. There is a certian dark humour to Mansoor's letter as he recounts how clueless the officials are of his language, culture, history, and religion. Given the subject I can't say I enjoyed the book, however it was well written, Mansoor is an engaging individual and I truly hope he has a good life.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is an excellent example of Audible custom content. There is excellent narration and the three-act production structure makes it very engaging. This is the incarceration memoir of Mansoor Adayfi, a Yemeni who ended up held without charge in Guantanamo Bay detention from February 9, 2002, to July 11, 2016. He was transferred to Serbia. According to a US government report, before his capture he "probably was a low-level fighter who was aligned with al-Qa'ida, although it is unclear whether he actually joined that group", and "traveled to Afghanistan in mid-2001, trained at an al-Qa'ida camp, [was] wounded by a coalition airstrike after the 9/11 attacks", and was captured by Afghan forces in late 2001. His story is he was a would-be student swept up for the bounty offered by the US. During the Inquisition, accusers could gain financially. If a person was found guilty of heresy, their property was often confiscated by the authorities. In some instances, a portion of this confiscated property would be given to the accuser as a reward. This was also true for those convicted of witchcraft. In later centuries, they had their property seized by the authorities. This property could then be distributed among those involved in the trial, including the accusers. So, we do have many centuries of experience with bounties leading to false arrests.

This is a compendium of rejected letters written by the author, both to family and imaginary recipients like "Founding Fathers" and "Google". Incarcerated at 19 and caught in a bewildering situation, the author clung at straws, succeeding in learning English and staying fit thanks to Men's Health, another would-be letter recipient.

[Ptera Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this autobiographical audiobook Letters from Guantanamo, author Mansur Ahmad Saad al-Dayfi, a former detainee, was ultimately found innocent after imprisonment without charges from 2002 to 2016. Although the US government contends that he might have been a low-level fighter, he has never waivered from his assertion that as a teenager, he was kidnaped for ransom by thugs, and when his family couldn't pay, he was sold to the Americans for the bounty offered for al-Qa'ida members.

Mr. Adayfi recounts his time in Guantanamo and the conditions he endured there, his hunger strike, and his forced release to Serbia, a country with a history of hostility to Muslims instead of repatriation to his native Yemen.

Early in his captivity, he is instructed to write a letter to his family. Suspecting that his captors want to imprison them, too, he writes a letter to a fake family, directing its content at the censor he knows will read it. The act of rebellion helps him cling to his humanity. This book springs from that letter. The epistolatory format provides a powerful vehicle for this autobiography, as is his plea for the release of many detainees who, like him, were rounded up or sold to the American forces in the days following the 911 attack--a time when many were ready to believe any accusation leveled against a young Muslim. Narrated in part by the author Mansoor Adayfi and co-author Antonio Aiello, it has a visceral impact, and mixes the horror of Guantanamo with a touch of humor that only pathos can inspire.

[Dari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just finished listening "The Letters from Guantanamo," I am moved by the depth and humanity found within its pages.

One of the most striking aspects of this book is the ingenuity with which the detainees addressed their letters. Despite the constraints and censorship they faced, their messages were powerful and impactful. Each letter serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul, capable of hope and expression even in the direst circumstances.

The author’s voices is diverse, yet he all share a common thread of longing for justice, connection, and understanding. His words are poignant and often heartbreaking, but they are also filled with moments of hope, wisdom, and even humor. The letters are not just pleas for freedom but are also reflections on life, faith, and humanity.

It is also a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and the need to uphold human rights and dignity.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook recounts a sordid time in American history, and time when people were rounded up and locked away for many years without ever being charged with a crime.

The author was kidnapped at age 18 and held captive at Guantánamo for 15 years. He was never charged with a crime, much less found guilty of anything.

Adayfi's letters are sad but often humorous as he laments his situation and pokes fun at his captors.

I enjoyed the letters for the most part, but he ventures into presidential politics near the end and exposes his political naïveté. He praises Obama, trashes Trump without offering any valid criticisms, and then says he wishes Hillary would have won because he belivees a woman would be more caring and compassionate.

It's short and entertaining, so it's worth a listen. But I can't give this a glowing endorsement.

[Ryan Drumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letters from Guantánamo was a really interesting read; as well as enlightening to the goings on at Guantánamo bay. What really threw me off though was about 3/5 of the way through the story, it just goes on a long tirade insulting Donald Trump, for seemingly no reason? Regardless of if you hate or love Trump, it didn’t seem to fit into the story at all. Other than that, I would recommend this book if you are looking to learn more about Guantánamo Bay and hear a story of great perseverance.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Audiobook*

After 9/11, Mansoor is one of the first prisoners sent off to Guantanamo as a suspected terrorist. He arrived as an 18 year old and was held without conviction for 15 years of torture in a black site, designed to bypass US constitutional rights. The book is a series of letters he wrote while there, in a small act of rebellion against the system and his oppressors. Humanity has a lot to be deeply ashamed of.

[Aaron Esthelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this doesnt make you hate the government then I dont know man. Something is wrong with you. Hard to read. The degradation these people were exposed to by dickless fucks is insane. Anyone who perpetrated and perpetuated this deserves to be locked in this jail for the rest of their lives. They are monsters of the highest caliber and a threat to all that is good and decent.

[Avery Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

So incredibly heartbreaking to hear of the mistreatment of innocent men by American soldiers based on what the government was putting out into the world. These letters and stories just show how evil the world and the media can be.

[Connor Kosnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartbreaking part of American history that’s often spoken about in the news and by politicians in a crude way for clicks and votes.

It was both sobering and refreshing to hear from the perspective(s) of those who were actually subjected to the torment and injustices of Guantanamo.

[Gigisxm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember when those photos of soldiers with the detainees leaked? Well that was just the tip of the iceberg. This was 14 years of torture told in letter form. It’s amazing how he is able to pull on humor and held onto whatever kindness that was few and far between

[Mitch Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful man. Like a lower profile Nelson Mandela but with a much better sense of humour. Amazing that anyone can retain their humanity whilst being treated much less so. F@@k you to the people who imprisoned the Gitmo detainees & denied them any justice.

[Liz G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book Americans should read. An innocent boy is taken to a US prison and spends years waiting for justice. A sad story no one son should ever find themselves in.

[Daphne Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It me huge insight into what they went through

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking to read. This was an eye opener since I was unaware of things that happened after the 9/11 attacks.

[Bianca Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was kidnapped of wild. I really enjoyed it though

[Lori (I will do proper reviews one day!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 ⭐️

[Amanda Esthelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly pretty horrific what we as a people will put others through for the sake of our own peace of mind. It’s despicable what happened to these people and truly heartbreaking

[Enrico Leta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great piece of writing that unveils the horrors that took place in Guantanamo. Highly emotional.

[Rachael Drenckpohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This epistolary book gives a sicken glimpse into the war crimes that US has yet to be held accountable for.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important and very moving book. I think I would rate it 5 stars as a young adult book.

[Nickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book would be upsetting but it is a must read.