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Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo
This moving, eye-opening memoir of an innocent man detained at Guantánamo Bay for fifteen years tells a story of humanity in the unlikeliest of places and an unprecedented look at life at Guantánamo.
At the age of 18, Mansoor Adayfi left his home in Yemen for a cultural mission to Afghanistan. He never returned. Kidnapped by warlords and then sold to the US after 9/11, he was disappeared to Guantánamo Bay, where he spent the next 14 years as Detainee #441.
Don't Forget Us Here tells two coming-of-age stories in a makeshift island outpost becoming the world's most notorious prison and an innocent young man emerging from its darkness. Arriving as a stubborn teenager, Mansoor survived the camp's infamous interrogation program and became a feared and hardened resistance fighter leading prison riots and hunger strikes. With time though, he grew into the man nicknamed "Smiley Troublemaker": a student, writer, advocate, and historian. While at Guantánamo, he wrote a series of manuscripts he sent as letters to his attorneys, which he then transformed into this vital chronicle, in collaboration with award-winning writer Antonio Aiello. With unexpected warmth and empathy, Mansoor unwinds a narrative of fighting for hope and survival in unimaginable circumstances, illuminating the limitlessness of the human spirit. And through his own story, he also tells Guantánamo's story, offering an unprecedented window into one of the most secretive places on earth and the people—detainees and guards alike—who lived there with him. Twenty years after 9/11, Guantánamo remains open, and at a moment of due reckoning, Mansoor Adayfi helps us understand what actually happened there—both the horror and the beauty—a stunning record of an experience we cannot afford to forget.
At the age of 18, Mansoor Adayfi left his home in Yemen for a cultural mission to Afghanistan. He never returned. Kidnapped by warlords and then sold to the US after 9/11, he was disappeared to Guantánamo Bay, where he spent the next 14 years as Detainee #441.
Don't Forget Us Here tells two coming-of-age stories in a makeshift island outpost becoming the world's most notorious prison and an innocent young man emerging from its darkness. Arriving as a stubborn teenager, Mansoor survived the camp's infamous interrogation program and became a feared and hardened resistance fighter leading prison riots and hunger strikes. With time though, he grew into the man nicknamed "Smiley Troublemaker": a student, writer, advocate, and historian. While at Guantánamo, he wrote a series of manuscripts he sent as letters to his attorneys, which he then transformed into this vital chronicle, in collaboration with award-winning writer Antonio Aiello. With unexpected warmth and empathy, Mansoor unwinds a narrative of fighting for hope and survival in unimaginable circumstances, illuminating the limitlessness of the human spirit. And through his own story, he also tells Guantánamo's story, offering an unprecedented window into one of the most secretive places on earth and the people—detainees and guards alike—who lived there with him. Twenty years after 9/11, Guantánamo remains open, and at a moment of due reckoning, Mansoor Adayfi helps us understand what actually happened there—both the horror and the beauty—a stunning record of an experience we cannot afford to forget.
1 pages, Audiobook
First published August 17, 2021
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May 9, 2021
Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo
by Mansoor Adayfi
This is a book that should be read by ever American so maybe we will not allow our government to go against the Geneva Convention again. This is one man's nightmare of being sold to the CIA for $1,500 dollars even though he was innocent. The majority of those locked up were innocent. Mansoor was only 19 years old and was locked up for 14 years.
Monsoor describes the whole tragic ordeal of the capture, the torture, transfer to a black site, and then to Guantanamo. He also what happens with others around him. What they endured, how they tried to fight back in subtle ways, and the fact they never expected the Americans would do this to them.
There was daily beating, and other tortures such as rectal probes, holding their eyes open and pepper spray applied, keeping them naked, freezing them, little to no sunshine, loud noises to make them not sleep, constantly grabbing them for interrogation claiming they were guilty, having dogs attack them, and so much more.
None of these people were charged with anything. Some were teachers, journalists, doctors, farmers, and kids! When one of Monsoor's friends got a broken tooth from fist or boot, he was in so much pain. No one would help him. The cell mates made a big stink so after a couple of weeks, they took the kid away. When he came back they had pulled eight teeth! One of the nice guards wrote up a report and was relocated off base. No one was allowed to complain. Another had frost bite to the tips of a couple of fingers. He came back with no fingers.
Although this upset me greatly to read, I think it is important to know what our government did in our names! It was an illegal war in my opinion and to drop our humanity on top of that and be okay with it is beyond words!
When Monsoor was finally released after 14 years of hell, he didn't even have a choice as to where to live. Others that left before him didn't do well. Some were killed because they were feared because America called them terrorists.
I hope the Bush Administration and everyone of them that played a part in lying to get us into that war reads this and sees what they have done.
There is so much in here! What I touched on is just the tip of the iceberg. Knowledge is power, read this!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book. Monsoor, I will think of you daily!
by Mansoor Adayfi
This is a book that should be read by ever American so maybe we will not allow our government to go against the Geneva Convention again. This is one man's nightmare of being sold to the CIA for $1,500 dollars even though he was innocent. The majority of those locked up were innocent. Mansoor was only 19 years old and was locked up for 14 years.
Monsoor describes the whole tragic ordeal of the capture, the torture, transfer to a black site, and then to Guantanamo. He also what happens with others around him. What they endured, how they tried to fight back in subtle ways, and the fact they never expected the Americans would do this to them.
There was daily beating, and other tortures such as rectal probes, holding their eyes open and pepper spray applied, keeping them naked, freezing them, little to no sunshine, loud noises to make them not sleep, constantly grabbing them for interrogation claiming they were guilty, having dogs attack them, and so much more.
None of these people were charged with anything. Some were teachers, journalists, doctors, farmers, and kids! When one of Monsoor's friends got a broken tooth from fist or boot, he was in so much pain. No one would help him. The cell mates made a big stink so after a couple of weeks, they took the kid away. When he came back they had pulled eight teeth! One of the nice guards wrote up a report and was relocated off base. No one was allowed to complain. Another had frost bite to the tips of a couple of fingers. He came back with no fingers.
Although this upset me greatly to read, I think it is important to know what our government did in our names! It was an illegal war in my opinion and to drop our humanity on top of that and be okay with it is beyond words!
When Monsoor was finally released after 14 years of hell, he didn't even have a choice as to where to live. Others that left before him didn't do well. Some were killed because they were feared because America called them terrorists.
I hope the Bush Administration and everyone of them that played a part in lying to get us into that war reads this and sees what they have done.
There is so much in here! What I touched on is just the tip of the iceberg. Knowledge is power, read this!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book. Monsoor, I will think of you daily!
September 1, 2021
Guantanamo Bay prison camp is still open today, a fact that is shocking after reading this account of the unfathomable cruelty and torture that has taken place since it opened at the start of the War on Terror. Mansoor Adayfi was taken to Guantanamo as a young man and spent all his twenties and much of his thirties there. This book is his memoir of that period, and is one of the most haunting I have ever read. The cruelties that Adayfi suffered daily for years were barely fathomable. The only thing that pulled him through it, by his own account, was the incredible brotherhood that developed between himself and other inmates of the camp, as well as his indefatigable faith in God and his will. This is not intended to be a religious book by any means, let alone a book of proselytizing. Yet for me the most powerful lesson that I took from it was about the power of faith.
This is a much darker book than Guantanamo Diary, in part because Adayfi was listed as a "non-compliant" prisoner and subjected to the absolute worst that Guantanamo had to offer. In between the endless accounts of torture and brutality, there periodically exist kind guards, lawyers who develop genuine friendships with their clients, and periods of beautiful friendship between the prisoners themselves. But the fear of being treated as less than a human never truly goes away when you are in the custody of those who have been instructed to hate and fear you. Adayfi is free today but what happened to him in Guantanamo Bay is in many ways a life sentence, both physically and psychologically. Reading his account of his time there, it is not hard to see why. Any full account of this period in U.S. history would be incomplete without grappling with what is retold in this painful memoir.
This is a much darker book than Guantanamo Diary, in part because Adayfi was listed as a "non-compliant" prisoner and subjected to the absolute worst that Guantanamo had to offer. In between the endless accounts of torture and brutality, there periodically exist kind guards, lawyers who develop genuine friendships with their clients, and periods of beautiful friendship between the prisoners themselves. But the fear of being treated as less than a human never truly goes away when you are in the custody of those who have been instructed to hate and fear you. Adayfi is free today but what happened to him in Guantanamo Bay is in many ways a life sentence, both physically and psychologically. Reading his account of his time there, it is not hard to see why. Any full account of this period in U.S. history would be incomplete without grappling with what is retold in this painful memoir.
February 27, 2022
Harrowing, heartbreaking, awe-inspiring, and rage-inducing. A must read about the horrific tortures of Guantanamo Bay - which continues to be operated with impunity by the American government.
August 14, 2021
Thank you, Mansoor Adayfi and Hachette Books for the opportunity to read this book. It releases August 18th, 2021.
“Imagine if American boys, eighteen years old or even younger, had spent five, ten, twenty years in a foreign prison without being charged with a crime, where they are tortured, punished for practicing their religion, experimented on, and forced to live in solitary confinement. This is Guantanamo.”
DON’T FORGET US HERE
Don’t Forget Us Here by Mansoor Adayfi is a memoir like no other. I will never forget September 11th, 2001 even though I was only 13 at the time. It wasn’t only the Americans who think back on that day in horror. Mansoor Adayfi was only eighteen when he was traveling to Afganistan from Yemen when he was kidnapped and sold to the United States. He was sent to Guantanamo Prison and became detainee #441. There he experienced torture and injustice at the hands of the United States government and military, even though he was innocent.
“Obama made life better at Guantanamo instead of closing it. We all knew this, but we didn’t know what this meant for our freedom.”
DON’T FORGET US HERE
It is true, our government wanted justice. They were consumed with finding the man behind the attacks and all those who helped him. But it came at a cost, the freedom and lives of those who were innocent. Because they technically weren’t Americans, they never received lawyers or a trial–which is a huge part of America. We claim liberty and justice for all. But it has never been for all, only for some.
Mansoor was never a fighter or associated with Osama Bin Laden. But he went from a young farm boy to an assumed criminal in an instant because he was Muslim. He lays out the torture he endured and also the hunger strikes for better conditions. There is so much emotion as he discusses how much he misses his family and the grief he feels for the loss of his future. It is also inspiring how he and other detainees bonded together.
Memoirs like this are important because this way we don’t forget and we can learn not to repeat our mistakes. There is no such thing as a perfect justice system but we must do better. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
“Imagine if American boys, eighteen years old or even younger, had spent five, ten, twenty years in a foreign prison without being charged with a crime, where they are tortured, punished for practicing their religion, experimented on, and forced to live in solitary confinement. This is Guantanamo.”
DON’T FORGET US HERE
Don’t Forget Us Here by Mansoor Adayfi is a memoir like no other. I will never forget September 11th, 2001 even though I was only 13 at the time. It wasn’t only the Americans who think back on that day in horror. Mansoor Adayfi was only eighteen when he was traveling to Afganistan from Yemen when he was kidnapped and sold to the United States. He was sent to Guantanamo Prison and became detainee #441. There he experienced torture and injustice at the hands of the United States government and military, even though he was innocent.
“Obama made life better at Guantanamo instead of closing it. We all knew this, but we didn’t know what this meant for our freedom.”
DON’T FORGET US HERE
It is true, our government wanted justice. They were consumed with finding the man behind the attacks and all those who helped him. But it came at a cost, the freedom and lives of those who were innocent. Because they technically weren’t Americans, they never received lawyers or a trial–which is a huge part of America. We claim liberty and justice for all. But it has never been for all, only for some.
Mansoor was never a fighter or associated with Osama Bin Laden. But he went from a young farm boy to an assumed criminal in an instant because he was Muslim. He lays out the torture he endured and also the hunger strikes for better conditions. There is so much emotion as he discusses how much he misses his family and the grief he feels for the loss of his future. It is also inspiring how he and other detainees bonded together.
Memoirs like this are important because this way we don’t forget and we can learn not to repeat our mistakes. There is no such thing as a perfect justice system but we must do better. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
August 14, 2023
My brother asked, “How do we make them listen?”
Maybe a better question was, “How do we make them see us?” I didn’t know that answer either. But when I saw myself in the mirror, I saw a man with a graying beard and hair, and the scars of torture all over my body. The man I saw wasn’t the same boy who was brought to Guantánamo so many years ago. I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.
I have said this probably a million times while reading this book, but alhamdulillah for the ease and blessings Allah (Exalted is He) put in our lives. What a heart-breaking memoir. The childish side of me so badly wanted this to be fictional, to be a figment of Mansoor’s imagination. It’s easier to just pretend that such oppressors do not exist, that humans cannot be this cruel. But that is not the nature of this life, nor of those heedless of Allah.
I could go on forever about the emotion in this book, about the blessed brotherhood, about Mansoor’s Taqwa in Allah (Exalted is He), about the nauseating things that were unlawfully done to him and his brothers in Islam (one of my favourite things about this novel was this endearment), about those few and rare good people that showed these men compassion. I could go on forever about Allah’s Mercy—oh how it brought tears to my eyes when Allah sent Mansoor Princess (the iguana) to be a form of comfort. Or when He blessed Mansoor with that dream that brought coolness to his heart. Or simply the fact that Mansoor suffered so much from these oppressors—this is the biggest sign of His Mercy. In sha Allah all of our oppressed brothers and sisters will be rewarded by the tenfolds on the Day our accounts are established.
We could all learn a thing or two from Mansoor. I will recommend this memoir any time I am asked to suggest a life-changing book. I wish I could say I was being dramatic, but this truly has changed me, has shamed me into being more grateful for what I have. I am grateful for the simple fact that I can pray and do wudhu and read Qur’an. I am grateful for silence (yes, they were deprived of that, as well), for freedom to talk, for the ability to look at the sky. Alhamdulillah.
5 stars <3
Maybe a better question was, “How do we make them see us?” I didn’t know that answer either. But when I saw myself in the mirror, I saw a man with a graying beard and hair, and the scars of torture all over my body. The man I saw wasn’t the same boy who was brought to Guantánamo so many years ago. I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.
I have said this probably a million times while reading this book, but alhamdulillah for the ease and blessings Allah (Exalted is He) put in our lives. What a heart-breaking memoir. The childish side of me so badly wanted this to be fictional, to be a figment of Mansoor’s imagination. It’s easier to just pretend that such oppressors do not exist, that humans cannot be this cruel. But that is not the nature of this life, nor of those heedless of Allah.
I could go on forever about the emotion in this book, about the blessed brotherhood, about Mansoor’s Taqwa in Allah (Exalted is He), about the nauseating things that were unlawfully done to him and his brothers in Islam (one of my favourite things about this novel was this endearment), about those few and rare good people that showed these men compassion. I could go on forever about Allah’s Mercy—oh how it brought tears to my eyes when Allah sent Mansoor Princess (the iguana) to be a form of comfort. Or when He blessed Mansoor with that dream that brought coolness to his heart. Or simply the fact that Mansoor suffered so much from these oppressors—this is the biggest sign of His Mercy. In sha Allah all of our oppressed brothers and sisters will be rewarded by the tenfolds on the Day our accounts are established.
We could all learn a thing or two from Mansoor. I will recommend this memoir any time I am asked to suggest a life-changing book. I wish I could say I was being dramatic, but this truly has changed me, has shamed me into being more grateful for what I have. I am grateful for the simple fact that I can pray and do wudhu and read Qur’an. I am grateful for silence (yes, they were deprived of that, as well), for freedom to talk, for the ability to look at the sky. Alhamdulillah.
5 stars <3
July 6, 2021
An absolutely striking and unforgettable account of years spent imprisoned for no reason. What shines through is Mansoor’s attempt to find beauty, humor, and shared humanity in a place that was built to strip away all sense of self. I felt both his anger and his joy on the page and was brought to tears by his stories of reaching out to fellow humans whenever possible.
June 22, 2023
“It was true that our faith led us through the darkest times and gave us hope that we would be released one day, but that didn’t mean we had to sit by and wait until it happened. We would rather die than do nothing.”
In his poignant memoir, Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantánamo, Mansoor Adayfi shares a harrowing account of his unlawful detainment at the notorious Guantánamo Bay detention camp following the 9/11 attacks. Adayfi, who was just a teenager when he was captured and transported to Guantánamo, endured over a decade of torture and torment within the confines of the United States military prison, far away from his home country of Yemen.
Guantánamo Bay has faced extensive criticism for its targeting of Muslims, which has created an atmosphere of religious discrimination. Following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government implemented policies that led to the detention of numerous individuals suspected of terrorism, with a disproportionate number being Muslims. This selective targeting has resulted in widespread condemnation, as it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and stigmatises an entire religious community.
Drawing from manuscripts written during his time in captivity, Adayfi's memoir leaves no detail untold as he recounts the painful experiences he and countless others endured at Guantánamo Bay. The reader is taken on a journey through the ceaseless physical and psychological suffering that Adayfi and his fellow detainees were subjected to on a daily basis for years on end. Through his powerful narrative, Adayfi sheds light on the injustices and violations of human rights that were perpetrated within the confines of this detention facility.
Adayfi's narrative goes beyond recounting his own experiences; it illuminates the wider framework and consequences surrounding Guantánamo Bay. He delves into its utilisation as a weapon to impart a lesson to the Muslim world and establish the United States as exempt from international law in the context of the so-called "war on terror." He delves into the flawed legal processes, the absence of due process, and the lack of basic human rights that characterised the detainment of individuals, himself included. Adayfi's memoir is a chilling reminder of the destructive consequences of such unjust practices.
“It felt like a laboratory to study how Muslims would react to crazy rules and punishments, and how the human spirit would endure and demean us.”
Given that the majority of detainees in Guantánamo are Muslim, it is unsurprising that their religious rights and beliefs have been subjected to violations, manipulation, and exploitation, all of which serve as methods to inflict torture during their confinement. Numerous instances of religious and psychological abuse are prevalent, including the desecration of the Qur'an, the prohibition of its recitation, restrictions on both individual and communal worship, and the exploitation of Islam through mockery to elicit information or cooperation.
“I had learned that praying and reciting the Qur’an completely shut off all my senses so that I didn’t hear, I didn’t see, I didn’t feel anymore. I just existed in the moment but outside the moment. Interrogators could talk for hours. They could do all kinds of humiliating things to me and they did. But it didn’t matter anymore.”
The persistent existence of Guantánamo Bay serves as a constant reminder of the systemic discrimination faced by Muslims in the name of national security. It highlights the urgent need for a more equitable and inclusive approach that upholds the principles of justice and respects the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religious beliefs.
As the reader follows Adayfi's journey from his homeland to Guantánamo, they are confronted with the immense resilience and strength of the human spirit. Despite the immense hardships he faced, Adayfi's memoir also explores themes of hope, brotherhood, resilience and the unwavering desire for justice.
“Whatever the case, twelve skinny brothers sent a strong message to the camp that they could beat us, crush our bones, starve us, detain us in the darkest, deepest hole, but they would never break us.”
Through his interactions with fellow detainees, Mansoor formed unexpected bonds, finding solace in shared stories, songs of resistance and acts of solidarity. These relationships served as a lifeline among the dehumanising, degrading conditions and gave rise to a collective spirit of resilience that challenged the oppressive environment of Guantánamo. Acts of solidarity were often promptly quashed by throwing individuals into solitary confinement, where they’d spend months on end.
Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantánamo stands as a powerful testament to the strength of human spirit and a plea for justice in the face of profound injustice. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring that the lessons learned from Guantánamo Bay are never forgotten. Adayfi’s story underscores the importance of accountability, human rights, and the need to address the moral implications of operating a facility where justice is denied and lives are irreparably damaged.
This memoir ultimately aims to foster empathy and understanding, urging readers not to forget the individuals held at Guantánamo and their ongoing fight for justice. By sharing his story, Adayfi seeks to inspire change, encourage dialogue, and illuminate the urgent need for a more just and compassionate world. It challenges readers to confront their own assumptions, biases, and complicity in the perpetuation of human rights abuses.
“…When I saw myself in the mirror, I saw a man with a graying beard and hair, and the scars of torture all over my body. The man I saw wasn’t the same boy who was brought to Guantánamo so many years ago. I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.”
In his poignant memoir, Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantánamo, Mansoor Adayfi shares a harrowing account of his unlawful detainment at the notorious Guantánamo Bay detention camp following the 9/11 attacks. Adayfi, who was just a teenager when he was captured and transported to Guantánamo, endured over a decade of torture and torment within the confines of the United States military prison, far away from his home country of Yemen.
Guantánamo Bay has faced extensive criticism for its targeting of Muslims, which has created an atmosphere of religious discrimination. Following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government implemented policies that led to the detention of numerous individuals suspected of terrorism, with a disproportionate number being Muslims. This selective targeting has resulted in widespread condemnation, as it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and stigmatises an entire religious community.
Drawing from manuscripts written during his time in captivity, Adayfi's memoir leaves no detail untold as he recounts the painful experiences he and countless others endured at Guantánamo Bay. The reader is taken on a journey through the ceaseless physical and psychological suffering that Adayfi and his fellow detainees were subjected to on a daily basis for years on end. Through his powerful narrative, Adayfi sheds light on the injustices and violations of human rights that were perpetrated within the confines of this detention facility.
Adayfi's narrative goes beyond recounting his own experiences; it illuminates the wider framework and consequences surrounding Guantánamo Bay. He delves into its utilisation as a weapon to impart a lesson to the Muslim world and establish the United States as exempt from international law in the context of the so-called "war on terror." He delves into the flawed legal processes, the absence of due process, and the lack of basic human rights that characterised the detainment of individuals, himself included. Adayfi's memoir is a chilling reminder of the destructive consequences of such unjust practices.
“It felt like a laboratory to study how Muslims would react to crazy rules and punishments, and how the human spirit would endure and demean us.”
Given that the majority of detainees in Guantánamo are Muslim, it is unsurprising that their religious rights and beliefs have been subjected to violations, manipulation, and exploitation, all of which serve as methods to inflict torture during their confinement. Numerous instances of religious and psychological abuse are prevalent, including the desecration of the Qur'an, the prohibition of its recitation, restrictions on both individual and communal worship, and the exploitation of Islam through mockery to elicit information or cooperation.
“I had learned that praying and reciting the Qur’an completely shut off all my senses so that I didn’t hear, I didn’t see, I didn’t feel anymore. I just existed in the moment but outside the moment. Interrogators could talk for hours. They could do all kinds of humiliating things to me and they did. But it didn’t matter anymore.”
The persistent existence of Guantánamo Bay serves as a constant reminder of the systemic discrimination faced by Muslims in the name of national security. It highlights the urgent need for a more equitable and inclusive approach that upholds the principles of justice and respects the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religious beliefs.
As the reader follows Adayfi's journey from his homeland to Guantánamo, they are confronted with the immense resilience and strength of the human spirit. Despite the immense hardships he faced, Adayfi's memoir also explores themes of hope, brotherhood, resilience and the unwavering desire for justice.
“Whatever the case, twelve skinny brothers sent a strong message to the camp that they could beat us, crush our bones, starve us, detain us in the darkest, deepest hole, but they would never break us.”
Through his interactions with fellow detainees, Mansoor formed unexpected bonds, finding solace in shared stories, songs of resistance and acts of solidarity. These relationships served as a lifeline among the dehumanising, degrading conditions and gave rise to a collective spirit of resilience that challenged the oppressive environment of Guantánamo. Acts of solidarity were often promptly quashed by throwing individuals into solitary confinement, where they’d spend months on end.
Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantánamo stands as a powerful testament to the strength of human spirit and a plea for justice in the face of profound injustice. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring that the lessons learned from Guantánamo Bay are never forgotten. Adayfi’s story underscores the importance of accountability, human rights, and the need to address the moral implications of operating a facility where justice is denied and lives are irreparably damaged.
This memoir ultimately aims to foster empathy and understanding, urging readers not to forget the individuals held at Guantánamo and their ongoing fight for justice. By sharing his story, Adayfi seeks to inspire change, encourage dialogue, and illuminate the urgent need for a more just and compassionate world. It challenges readers to confront their own assumptions, biases, and complicity in the perpetuation of human rights abuses.
“…When I saw myself in the mirror, I saw a man with a graying beard and hair, and the scars of torture all over my body. The man I saw wasn’t the same boy who was brought to Guantánamo so many years ago. I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.”
September 2, 2021
A powerful and infuriating book told from the vantage point of Mansoor Adayfi who is a Yemeni national imprisoned by the US for years at Guantanamo Bay. While there are some holes in this story, and it drifts at times, the final half of the book is extremely powerful. Every American should be ashamed GITMO was opened by the George W. Bush administration, pathetically kept open with half-assed measures from the Barack Obama Administration, and then served to Donald Trump as a coronation gift. The fact that there haven't been widespread prosecutions of GITMO staff, and some have even used their time there as a major CV booster, illustrates just how far America fell into a moral abyss after 9-11. The sheer stupidity and immorality of the military and DOJ personnel described in this book is an indictment on the American family, educational system, and religious institutions.
June 11, 2025
“What if some government kidnapped your son and held him without charges and no rights? What would you say to that? Is this what American greatness is about?”
This book hit me hard. I’ve always known how incredibly evil the U.S. has been and is to Black and brown people, but hearing it directly from someone who was kidnapped from their country and endured daily torture at the hands of our government and military, despite never being convicted of a crime, was something else. If you still believe in this system or question those who criticize it, you need to read this book. It is hard to confront the reality that this country has destroyed so many innocent people’s lives all over the world with no justification. Facing the truth is painful, but it’s the only way to build a better, more just world for ALL of us.
This book hit me hard. I’ve always known how incredibly evil the U.S. has been and is to Black and brown people, but hearing it directly from someone who was kidnapped from their country and endured daily torture at the hands of our government and military, despite never being convicted of a crime, was something else. If you still believe in this system or question those who criticize it, you need to read this book. It is hard to confront the reality that this country has destroyed so many innocent people’s lives all over the world with no justification. Facing the truth is painful, but it’s the only way to build a better, more just world for ALL of us.
September 2, 2021
When Mansoor Adayfi was eighteen, he went to Afghanistan, believing he would return to his home country of Yemen in due time. That never happened. He was, instead, kidnapped by warlords and sold to the US - the lead up to a drawn out case of mistaken identity. He spent the next 14 years as a detainee at Guantanamo Bay. Mansoor was an innocent man, but he was not given a chance to defend his innocence properly until the very end of his time at Guantanamo. Even then, his story did not unfold into something happier but, as he states in this, that’s another tale to tell. I hope he will give readers a second book.
Mansoor Adayfi endured a number of physical and emotional traumas, which he details in his story, yet he somehow managed to communicate it all in a way that helps readers understand without completely overwhelming them. It’s the tone of the book that makes a world of difference. It is dark, yet full of hope.
The things that really stood out in this memoir were Mansoor’s sense-of-humor, strength in advocating for better treatment, insight, maintained faith and clear attempts (especially as he matured) to not let this experience lead to bitterness. Few people could have come out of this with such a gracious attitude. He’s honest, but he never comes across as hateful. He acknowledges the bad, but also makes note of those who were good to him. Unsurprisingly, he did not walk away unscathed, as PTSD resulted from the trauma, and his ability to tell his story with such tact was impressive.
Don’t Forget Us Here is a powerful true story that highlights the horrors of mistreatment and injustice. It offers a critical perspective from a wrongfully detained man. I’m thankful Mansoor Adayfi was finally able to tell his story.
Mansoor Adayfi endured a number of physical and emotional traumas, which he details in his story, yet he somehow managed to communicate it all in a way that helps readers understand without completely overwhelming them. It’s the tone of the book that makes a world of difference. It is dark, yet full of hope.
The things that really stood out in this memoir were Mansoor’s sense-of-humor, strength in advocating for better treatment, insight, maintained faith and clear attempts (especially as he matured) to not let this experience lead to bitterness. Few people could have come out of this with such a gracious attitude. He’s honest, but he never comes across as hateful. He acknowledges the bad, but also makes note of those who were good to him. Unsurprisingly, he did not walk away unscathed, as PTSD resulted from the trauma, and his ability to tell his story with such tact was impressive.
Don’t Forget Us Here is a powerful true story that highlights the horrors of mistreatment and injustice. It offers a critical perspective from a wrongfully detained man. I’m thankful Mansoor Adayfi was finally able to tell his story.
May 26, 2021
Mansoor was 18 yo when he left Yemen to go on a short investigative expedition to Afghanistan on behalf of a writer who held the reference he needed to attend college in UAE. It was 2001.
Mansoor was kidnapped by warlords and sold to the US as a high up leader and recruiter of Al Qaeda. A 40 yo Egyptian general, who looks nothing like 18 yo Mansoor. And how can you convince agents that are looking to extract info from you when they believe you are lying as a trained agent? You can't. Because when you still don't confess after months and years of torture, they "reason" that it must be because of superior training in counter interrogation which makes them ramp up their counter-counter interrogation.
Mansoor spends over 14 years in Guantanamo in the most degrading, dehumanizing unending cycles of pain, torture, and abuse. It's not really living. It's forced slow death at the hands of sadists. Having recently read My Time Will Come, I knew how hard of a read this would be. But there were new depths of despair I didn't think possible.
Mansoor is known throughout Guantanamo as Smiley Troublemaker. And he fights back with the only thing prisoners can, by protesting with their body.
This book is very rough to read, but it is extremely worth it. What do we give up when we refuse to see the humanity in others? What do we give up when we insist that the only way to freedom or justice is by any means necessary?
Mansoor was kidnapped by warlords and sold to the US as a high up leader and recruiter of Al Qaeda. A 40 yo Egyptian general, who looks nothing like 18 yo Mansoor. And how can you convince agents that are looking to extract info from you when they believe you are lying as a trained agent? You can't. Because when you still don't confess after months and years of torture, they "reason" that it must be because of superior training in counter interrogation which makes them ramp up their counter-counter interrogation.
Mansoor spends over 14 years in Guantanamo in the most degrading, dehumanizing unending cycles of pain, torture, and abuse. It's not really living. It's forced slow death at the hands of sadists. Having recently read My Time Will Come, I knew how hard of a read this would be. But there were new depths of despair I didn't think possible.
Mansoor is known throughout Guantanamo as Smiley Troublemaker. And he fights back with the only thing prisoners can, by protesting with their body.
This book is very rough to read, but it is extremely worth it. What do we give up when we refuse to see the humanity in others? What do we give up when we insist that the only way to freedom or justice is by any means necessary?
August 22, 2021
I am at a loss for words to begin to describe what Mansoor Adayfi has recorded and detailed what humans are capable of. I will have to return to this at a later date.
Thank you Mansoor for your courage.
Thank you Mansoor for your courage.
May 30, 2021
Mansoor, unlawfully detained at Guantanamo Bay for 15 years tells about his experience and the experiences of his brothers who suffered along side him
This book was hard to digest and process. Often leaving me gutted at what humans are capable of.
Leaving me wondering how people could possibly be conditioned to be so cold and callous to other humans
I frequently had to put this book down because of how horrific things were
This isn’t fiction. This is reality. And everyone should read it because being ignorant about what has and continues to happen just makes you part of the problem
Mansoor, the US took 15 years from you. Not only that it gave you only one option upon release, to go to Serbia, further imprisoning you. The world owes you more, you deserve better
Please don’t stop writing
Your life is valuable and your story should be heard
This is one of those things that will sit with me for years
This book was hard to digest and process. Often leaving me gutted at what humans are capable of.
Leaving me wondering how people could possibly be conditioned to be so cold and callous to other humans
I frequently had to put this book down because of how horrific things were
This isn’t fiction. This is reality. And everyone should read it because being ignorant about what has and continues to happen just makes you part of the problem
Mansoor, the US took 15 years from you. Not only that it gave you only one option upon release, to go to Serbia, further imprisoning you. The world owes you more, you deserve better
Please don’t stop writing
Your life is valuable and your story should be heard
This is one of those things that will sit with me for years
October 30, 2021
Important for many people to read. What the United States did to those people we took to Guantanamo clearly was against Human Rights Charters the USA has signed. Clearly War Crimes took place. The author was held at Guantanamo for 14 years without charges and most of the time without access to legal counsel. I’m very glad I read his account.
April 13, 2023
Don't Forget Us Here is the harrowing testimony of Mansoor Adayfi's fourteen years as a detainee in Guantánamo Bay. Pages and pages of all kinds of torture are described, years of inhumane and disgusting treatment of prisoners, most of whom were wrongly imprisoned, all of whom did not deserve what Guantánamo Bay did to them.
However, throughout the horrors of this American-made hell, Adayfi describes how his faith in Allah and the brotherhood among detainees helped him persevere. Even if only a fraction of his story were true, it is clear that the true terrorists were the Americans.
A beautiful and miserable story about a life being taken and having to cope while enduring so much trauma. After a particularly gruesome scene about force feedings, I had to convince myself to continue reading. A friend put it perfectly: "If someone lived this, how can I turn away and not even read it."
However, throughout the horrors of this American-made hell, Adayfi describes how his faith in Allah and the brotherhood among detainees helped him persevere. Even if only a fraction of his story were true, it is clear that the true terrorists were the Americans.
A beautiful and miserable story about a life being taken and having to cope while enduring so much trauma. After a particularly gruesome scene about force feedings, I had to convince myself to continue reading. A friend put it perfectly: "If someone lived this, how can I turn away and not even read it."
August 13, 2022
heartbreaking :(
August 24, 2021
This was a powerful, difficult, heartbreaking book. While I thought I was familiar with the situation at Guantanamo, I clearly had no idea what really was going on and I'm sure I'm not alone in that statement. This is such an important read for everyone.
At age 19, Mansoor Adayfi was sold to the CIA by warlords after 9/11 and taken to Guantanamo Bay where he became known as Detainee 441. Suspected of being an Egyptian general named "Adel," Adayfi was interrogated and tortured and though there was never official evidence of any wrongdoing, he was kept at Guantanamo Bay for nearly 15 years, much of which was spent in solitary confinement. This is his story of Guantanamo.
Adayfi takes the reader through all of his emotions during this time: his resistance, his confusion, his fear, and his relationships with the other detainees and guards. I had to take frequent breaks from this book as it weighed so heavily on my heart. But ultimately, I'm so glad I was able to read Adayfi's story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
At age 19, Mansoor Adayfi was sold to the CIA by warlords after 9/11 and taken to Guantanamo Bay where he became known as Detainee 441. Suspected of being an Egyptian general named "Adel," Adayfi was interrogated and tortured and though there was never official evidence of any wrongdoing, he was kept at Guantanamo Bay for nearly 15 years, much of which was spent in solitary confinement. This is his story of Guantanamo.
Adayfi takes the reader through all of his emotions during this time: his resistance, his confusion, his fear, and his relationships with the other detainees and guards. I had to take frequent breaks from this book as it weighed so heavily on my heart. But ultimately, I'm so glad I was able to read Adayfi's story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2021
What can I say. This book blew me away. It left me sleepless at night. It left my mind numb during the day.
This is a book every person should read. It describes in vivid detail the horrors that occurred at Guantanamo Bay. And the sad reality that over 80% of gitmo's inmates were innocent people "sold" to the US for bounty money.
It shows the sad reality of a prison who's inmates were not protected by any law.
It shows the years of these men that were wasted away behind those walls.
It also shows the resilience of the human mind and heart.
And most of all, it shows that utmost belief in Almighty God (Allah) is the best (and often only) power that saved these men from going insane.
This books shows the reality behind nations who call themselves "democratic". It is a stain on democratic society and a shame on America for what it did to these men.
Keep the remaining 39 inmates in your duas (prayers).
Book is also available in an audiobook!
This is a book every person should read. It describes in vivid detail the horrors that occurred at Guantanamo Bay. And the sad reality that over 80% of gitmo's inmates were innocent people "sold" to the US for bounty money.
It shows the sad reality of a prison who's inmates were not protected by any law.
It shows the years of these men that were wasted away behind those walls.
It also shows the resilience of the human mind and heart.
And most of all, it shows that utmost belief in Almighty God (Allah) is the best (and often only) power that saved these men from going insane.
This books shows the reality behind nations who call themselves "democratic". It is a stain on democratic society and a shame on America for what it did to these men.
Keep the remaining 39 inmates in your duas (prayers).
Book is also available in an audiobook!
December 11, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Heartbreaking and eye-opening, this is one of those memoirs that everyone (!) must read at some point. I’ve read a lot about the horrible incidents that went on at Guantanamo during the height of the War on Terror, but Adayfi’s book provided a shocking, sickening, and all around horrifying look into all that happened there and what he experienced firsthand. Though the subject matter makes it a difficult read at times, it’s a book we cannot afford to ignore.
Thank you to Hachette Books & NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Heartbreaking and eye-opening, this is one of those memoirs that everyone (!) must read at some point. I’ve read a lot about the horrible incidents that went on at Guantanamo during the height of the War on Terror, but Adayfi’s book provided a shocking, sickening, and all around horrifying look into all that happened there and what he experienced firsthand. Though the subject matter makes it a difficult read at times, it’s a book we cannot afford to ignore.
Thank you to Hachette Books & NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
Mansoor Adayfi tells his goals for writing this book: to present the story from the inside, from those who experienced it; to convey moments of bonding among detainees; to tell of resistance; to tell of surprising moments of beauty and joy among the horrors. And he accomplishes his goal.
Every American should read this book and then demand the closure of Guantanamo and legislation to prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again.
Every American should read this book and then demand the closure of Guantanamo and legislation to prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again.
September 25, 2021
Read it, because only by looking at our flaws as a nation can we reach our potential.
February 5, 2022
I'm an American, so I can say it: Fuck America. Fuck my country for allowing me to grow up with accounts of torture on the news, and for airing the voices of nationalistic men who tried to justify it. I cannot believe that I live in a world where, when I was a child, I was asked whether I thought torture was okay. I grew up with this. I grew up with conversations about this. Teachers asked me to write papers on this. I was asked many many times to think that this was okay. I'll repeat: When I was six and seven and eight years old, I was told about the tortures that took place in Guantanamo Bay, immediately followed by a justification for why they had to happen. That's my personal relationship to this prison.
You can know Guantanamo Bay is bad, but actually reading a memoir by someone who was there for 14 years is very different. It solidifies your mind, your morals. I really do feel it is the duty of American citizens to read this.
Adayfi explains how he was taken, a young sheep farmer with dreams of university, and sold to the American CIA for $1,500. Later, he would be told it was his own fault for "being in Afghanistan." For existing in a country.
He was tortured endlessly, even after the Americans finally seemed to understand that he was not a middle-aged Egyptian general, but a nineteen year-old boy from Yemen. The thing that struck me most about the cruelty, besides how absolutely idiotic it makes my country look, is that the guards who tortured him spoke exactly like the jocks I went to high school with. I never understood how much plain racism and commonplace hyper-masculinity factored into the terror of Guantanamo Bay. It is a literal manifestation of American culture. Although he doesn't say this himself, when Adayfi described how the guards destroyed the artwork of flowers and trees that the men had made, I could imagine easily how threatened the soldiers were by the idea of men making art.
I loved the stories he told of brotherhood: How they sang to each other on Saturday nights (until the Americans drowned out their voices with machines), how they "wrote" poems using the stickers from their apples, how they organized resistance against human rights abuses. Particularly, I loved the story of when Obama was elected. The prisoners had heard that a black man was running for president and that he wanted to close Guantanamo Bay. After the election results were announced, the prisoners saw an African American guard walking down the hall, smiling ear-to-ear. They knew from his joy that Obama had won. Their plan had been to get a code yellow called if Obama won: When guards would storm into a cell and beat a man, the violence was so noisy that the entire prison could hear. A code yellow on election day would signal that Obama had been elected. After seeing the smiling guard, one of the prisoners put a towel in front of the window of his cell, which was against the rules, as guards had to look in to ensure that no one committed suicide. When he did this, a code yellow was called, and he laughed as guards stormed his cell and beat him.
The entire prison started to celebrate as the news of Obama's victory spread, with many of the men yelling that it wasn't "the White House anymore," it was the "Black House!" The administrators were fearful, believing somehow that prisoners had acquired access to television. They were unable to understand how the entire prison knew that Obama had been elected. For weeks they interrogated prisoners in order to undercover the sophisticated terrorist communications they thought were happening on the inside somehow, in these barren cages in Cuba.
While Obama broke his promise and failed to close Guantanamo Bay, it does seem that his victory directly led to what the author called the "golden era" of Guantanamo. During this time Adayfi was given English classes, which is what allowed him to write this book. He earned a GED, was permitted to socialize with other prisoners, and was allowed to see the sky for the first time in years. Reminder: He was never charged with a crime.
I am so grateful that Adayfi has shared his story. It is absolutely invaluable to me as an American citizen. I am able to argue more articulately than ever why torture is wrong, and how our history of torture has enabled other countries in the world to commit their own human rights violations. I also understand how incredibly important public opinion is to those who run these facilities, which means that one of the most important things that I can do is listen and continually speak out.
I was born an American. This means that I actually have more power in these matters than the vast majority of people on Earth. It doesn't feel that way, of course, but recognizing that privilege is important. Reading about these things is unpleasant and horrible, but absolutely necessary in order to take steps towards a just world. I will never raise a child in a house where Fox News explains to them why enhanced interrogation techniques are sometimes okay. I will vote for the president who lets innocent men see the sky. I will tell my representatives I want freed Guantanamo Bay prisoners to be relocated safely and given reparations for the injustices done to them. I will tell them to close Guantanamo.
You can know Guantanamo Bay is bad, but actually reading a memoir by someone who was there for 14 years is very different. It solidifies your mind, your morals. I really do feel it is the duty of American citizens to read this.
Adayfi explains how he was taken, a young sheep farmer with dreams of university, and sold to the American CIA for $1,500. Later, he would be told it was his own fault for "being in Afghanistan." For existing in a country.
He was tortured endlessly, even after the Americans finally seemed to understand that he was not a middle-aged Egyptian general, but a nineteen year-old boy from Yemen. The thing that struck me most about the cruelty, besides how absolutely idiotic it makes my country look, is that the guards who tortured him spoke exactly like the jocks I went to high school with. I never understood how much plain racism and commonplace hyper-masculinity factored into the terror of Guantanamo Bay. It is a literal manifestation of American culture. Although he doesn't say this himself, when Adayfi described how the guards destroyed the artwork of flowers and trees that the men had made, I could imagine easily how threatened the soldiers were by the idea of men making art.
I loved the stories he told of brotherhood: How they sang to each other on Saturday nights (until the Americans drowned out their voices with machines), how they "wrote" poems using the stickers from their apples, how they organized resistance against human rights abuses. Particularly, I loved the story of when Obama was elected. The prisoners had heard that a black man was running for president and that he wanted to close Guantanamo Bay. After the election results were announced, the prisoners saw an African American guard walking down the hall, smiling ear-to-ear. They knew from his joy that Obama had won. Their plan had been to get a code yellow called if Obama won: When guards would storm into a cell and beat a man, the violence was so noisy that the entire prison could hear. A code yellow on election day would signal that Obama had been elected. After seeing the smiling guard, one of the prisoners put a towel in front of the window of his cell, which was against the rules, as guards had to look in to ensure that no one committed suicide. When he did this, a code yellow was called, and he laughed as guards stormed his cell and beat him.
The entire prison started to celebrate as the news of Obama's victory spread, with many of the men yelling that it wasn't "the White House anymore," it was the "Black House!" The administrators were fearful, believing somehow that prisoners had acquired access to television. They were unable to understand how the entire prison knew that Obama had been elected. For weeks they interrogated prisoners in order to undercover the sophisticated terrorist communications they thought were happening on the inside somehow, in these barren cages in Cuba.
While Obama broke his promise and failed to close Guantanamo Bay, it does seem that his victory directly led to what the author called the "golden era" of Guantanamo. During this time Adayfi was given English classes, which is what allowed him to write this book. He earned a GED, was permitted to socialize with other prisoners, and was allowed to see the sky for the first time in years. Reminder: He was never charged with a crime.
I am so grateful that Adayfi has shared his story. It is absolutely invaluable to me as an American citizen. I am able to argue more articulately than ever why torture is wrong, and how our history of torture has enabled other countries in the world to commit their own human rights violations. I also understand how incredibly important public opinion is to those who run these facilities, which means that one of the most important things that I can do is listen and continually speak out.
I was born an American. This means that I actually have more power in these matters than the vast majority of people on Earth. It doesn't feel that way, of course, but recognizing that privilege is important. Reading about these things is unpleasant and horrible, but absolutely necessary in order to take steps towards a just world. I will never raise a child in a house where Fox News explains to them why enhanced interrogation techniques are sometimes okay. I will vote for the president who lets innocent men see the sky. I will tell my representatives I want freed Guantanamo Bay prisoners to be relocated safely and given reparations for the injustices done to them. I will tell them to close Guantanamo.
March 15, 2023
Review coming soon.
August 11, 2022
This was a difficult, difficult book and it's hard to "review" a personal account such as this - most of this journey as you can imagine is a completely unpleasant reading experience. Adayfi's story is such a perfect encapsulation of the senselessness of war, imperialism, and politics - but also of how deeply askew the War on Terror drove America's moral compass.
It's practically impossible to even imagine being in Mansoor's position at any point throughout this book or to understand what he went through, but it was an honor to bear witness to his story. The passage on "the golden age" of Guantanamo was as excellent and moving a meditation on the power of art-making and human compassion as you will find anywhere. Adayfi is more than just an inspiration, he is a voice that reminds us of the truly human costs of the systems and logics that the ruling class use to govern us.
It's practically impossible to even imagine being in Mansoor's position at any point throughout this book or to understand what he went through, but it was an honor to bear witness to his story. The passage on "the golden age" of Guantanamo was as excellent and moving a meditation on the power of art-making and human compassion as you will find anywhere. Adayfi is more than just an inspiration, he is a voice that reminds us of the truly human costs of the systems and logics that the ruling class use to govern us.
June 2, 2022
I actually had no idea Guantanamo Bay was still open today. For some reason, I’d believed the entire facility had been shut down during the Obama administration. However, it is still up and running – even after all of the public backlash, after all of the outcries made due to severe human rights abuses.
This is a cautionary tale that America needs to hear, and most importantly, a story the American government needs to recognize as what happens when a country impulsively overreacts to mass hysteria. A lesson that this country founded on the ideals of “freedom”, “liberty”, and “human rights” still has yet to learn.
Mansoor Adayfi is just a simple Yemeni teenager with a simple wish: to go to the Gulf states (the UAE) to receive higher education, a better-paying job, and start a family. This dream quickly becomes a nightmare, however, once 9/11 occurs, and someone identifies Mansoor to the CIA as an Egyptian general said to be an enemy combatant of the United States. (This general is much older than Adayfi, and after simple observation, they are clearly two distinct people.) No matter. The U.S. keeps wanting Adayfi to admit to crimes he never committed. One minute he’s an Egyptian general, the next, an al-Qaeda top commander.
Adayfi speaks very candidly about the physical and psychological torture experienced daily by the detainees over the course of FOURTEEN YEARS of detention. Fourteen years of a life lost, fourteen years with no charges filed, fourteen years with no real evidence against him, and fourteen years with no legal counsel or court in which his innocence could be proven. Although I do believe it is a book that should be read by all, I must warn that there are some very disturbing descriptions of torture that are extremely unsettling.
I actually had to put the book down upon reading one of my worst nightmares come true: a friend/cellmate neighbor of Mansoor’s, who had eight teeth removed when only one was aching. Most people have some fear of the dentist, and this was an act of remarkable cruelty. An act that made the prisoners refuse medical care from Guantanamo and instead simply live with their pain.
The whole story is painful to read, from start to finish. Adayfi has very little memories of his childhood and young adulthood, and it’s no wonder: extreme torture over such a prolonged period of time tends to erode memory. It’s nearly impossible to actually place yourself into the author’s shoes and see things from his perspective. Not because he isn’t human, but the opposite, rather: because he clearly is so human and so kind, someone we’d all root for and be lucky to call a friend.
It’s hard to reconcile these thoughts with the way the CIA, guards, and military viewed and treated Mansoor and his fellow detainees. Somehow, through it all, Mansoor never loses his sense of humor. He manages to make even the darkest place somewhat colorful with his jokes and good nature. It’s unbelievably tragic that someone like himself could find themselves in such a nightmarish scenario. I truly hope that he finds peace and happiness for himself in Serbia, where he was relocated once finally released in 2015. It says he struggles to make a life for himself. I don’t understand why the CIA and America have not properly compensated these prisoners: they should be given millions, along with a beautiful life to live free in America, left undisturbed by government officials for the rest of their existence. That’s just my two cents, however. This book really brings out some raw emotions inside you – something for which you should be prepared.
It’s miraculous that someone could even survive this kind of existence for so long, but to be able to relive it through the telling of this story? That takes a truly incredible individual, and you will find that individual in Mansoor and the stories he tells. The bits of light he manages to extract through all the darkness. Don’t Forget Us Here is a truly powerful and provocative account of possibly the worst atrocity committed by the U.S. government in recent history.
This is a cautionary tale that America needs to hear, and most importantly, a story the American government needs to recognize as what happens when a country impulsively overreacts to mass hysteria. A lesson that this country founded on the ideals of “freedom”, “liberty”, and “human rights” still has yet to learn.
Mansoor Adayfi is just a simple Yemeni teenager with a simple wish: to go to the Gulf states (the UAE) to receive higher education, a better-paying job, and start a family. This dream quickly becomes a nightmare, however, once 9/11 occurs, and someone identifies Mansoor to the CIA as an Egyptian general said to be an enemy combatant of the United States. (This general is much older than Adayfi, and after simple observation, they are clearly two distinct people.) No matter. The U.S. keeps wanting Adayfi to admit to crimes he never committed. One minute he’s an Egyptian general, the next, an al-Qaeda top commander.
Adayfi speaks very candidly about the physical and psychological torture experienced daily by the detainees over the course of FOURTEEN YEARS of detention. Fourteen years of a life lost, fourteen years with no charges filed, fourteen years with no real evidence against him, and fourteen years with no legal counsel or court in which his innocence could be proven. Although I do believe it is a book that should be read by all, I must warn that there are some very disturbing descriptions of torture that are extremely unsettling.
I actually had to put the book down upon reading one of my worst nightmares come true: a friend/cellmate neighbor of Mansoor’s, who had eight teeth removed when only one was aching. Most people have some fear of the dentist, and this was an act of remarkable cruelty. An act that made the prisoners refuse medical care from Guantanamo and instead simply live with their pain.
The whole story is painful to read, from start to finish. Adayfi has very little memories of his childhood and young adulthood, and it’s no wonder: extreme torture over such a prolonged period of time tends to erode memory. It’s nearly impossible to actually place yourself into the author’s shoes and see things from his perspective. Not because he isn’t human, but the opposite, rather: because he clearly is so human and so kind, someone we’d all root for and be lucky to call a friend.
It’s hard to reconcile these thoughts with the way the CIA, guards, and military viewed and treated Mansoor and his fellow detainees. Somehow, through it all, Mansoor never loses his sense of humor. He manages to make even the darkest place somewhat colorful with his jokes and good nature. It’s unbelievably tragic that someone like himself could find themselves in such a nightmarish scenario. I truly hope that he finds peace and happiness for himself in Serbia, where he was relocated once finally released in 2015. It says he struggles to make a life for himself. I don’t understand why the CIA and America have not properly compensated these prisoners: they should be given millions, along with a beautiful life to live free in America, left undisturbed by government officials for the rest of their existence. That’s just my two cents, however. This book really brings out some raw emotions inside you – something for which you should be prepared.
It’s miraculous that someone could even survive this kind of existence for so long, but to be able to relive it through the telling of this story? That takes a truly incredible individual, and you will find that individual in Mansoor and the stories he tells. The bits of light he manages to extract through all the darkness. Don’t Forget Us Here is a truly powerful and provocative account of possibly the worst atrocity committed by the U.S. government in recent history.
January 3, 2022
This book is a MUST-READ!! Part of preventing atrocities like this is to read and raise awareness of injustices, and this injustice has to be one of the most heartbreaking I have ever read.
Genre: Adult Memoir
Ages: 16/17 and up
Available:Amazon
Islamic screening: cussing, graphic descriptions of torture (including physical/sexual assault, mental/psychological torture, Quran desecration, and more heartbreaking assaults)
Mansoor was 18 years old, from a village in Yemen, when he was sent by his teacher to do a report in Afghanistan. Kidnapped by warlords who made up that he was a middle aged terrorist, Adel, he was sold for the bounty paid by the US to capture terrorists. He details his experience in Guantanamo Bay and how he maintained his innocence in the face of torturous interrogations and how he fought back through refusing to cooperate in the prison and planning hunger strikes. He was categorized as one of the biggest trouble makers for his resistance, but he heartbreakingly details how it was b/c each time he would have hope or ease, he would be broken down and tortured and told that he was disposable, even when many of those in charge knew he was innocent. After over 14 years, he was finally released from the prison but force-relocated to Serbia, where he is still struggling to try to live a normal life, get married, and get educated in the stigma/aftermath of being a Gitmo detainee.
This book delves into a deep fear of Muslims in the West- that even when you do no crime, being brown/Muslim is a crime itself. In the aftermath of 9/11, many innocent Muslims like Mansoor were harmed in the name of the war on terror. Islamaphobia until today has roots in fear of Islam, and Muslims themselves deal with Internal Islamaphobia- the fear that appearing too religious and faithful to Islam will be interpreted as radical.
It shames me that my country, the US, would be a part of this atrocity. And Muslims still live in fear of Islamaphobic attacks.
This book is a true nightmare of racism and Islamaphobia and clear injustice was done to Mansoor- yet Guantanamo is still open, with violations of basic human rights taking place to innocents. #closeGuantanamo
Genre: Adult Memoir
Ages: 16/17 and up
Available:Amazon
Islamic screening: cussing, graphic descriptions of torture (including physical/sexual assault, mental/psychological torture, Quran desecration, and more heartbreaking assaults)
Mansoor was 18 years old, from a village in Yemen, when he was sent by his teacher to do a report in Afghanistan. Kidnapped by warlords who made up that he was a middle aged terrorist, Adel, he was sold for the bounty paid by the US to capture terrorists. He details his experience in Guantanamo Bay and how he maintained his innocence in the face of torturous interrogations and how he fought back through refusing to cooperate in the prison and planning hunger strikes. He was categorized as one of the biggest trouble makers for his resistance, but he heartbreakingly details how it was b/c each time he would have hope or ease, he would be broken down and tortured and told that he was disposable, even when many of those in charge knew he was innocent. After over 14 years, he was finally released from the prison but force-relocated to Serbia, where he is still struggling to try to live a normal life, get married, and get educated in the stigma/aftermath of being a Gitmo detainee.
This book delves into a deep fear of Muslims in the West- that even when you do no crime, being brown/Muslim is a crime itself. In the aftermath of 9/11, many innocent Muslims like Mansoor were harmed in the name of the war on terror. Islamaphobia until today has roots in fear of Islam, and Muslims themselves deal with Internal Islamaphobia- the fear that appearing too religious and faithful to Islam will be interpreted as radical.
It shames me that my country, the US, would be a part of this atrocity. And Muslims still live in fear of Islamaphobic attacks.
This book is a true nightmare of racism and Islamaphobia and clear injustice was done to Mansoor- yet Guantanamo is still open, with violations of basic human rights taking place to innocents. #closeGuantanamo
December 3, 2021
This is a well-written and telling account of the mistreatment that detainees, many innocent of any wrongdoings, experienced at the hands of the US military at Guantanamo Detention Camp. One thing that kept coming back to me as I read this book, was that the USA, as great as it is in so many ways, is just like so many other countries throughout history that have imposed their will on those they have no use for. In this way, unfortunately, the United States in not the 'exceptional country' many Americans like to think it is.
I'm curious what the guards that carried out the abuse described in this book feel about what they did. Is it something they continue to rationalize, as in 'just following orders, I had no choice.' Did the experience change their view humanity and of themselves? Were they confirmed in the view that the detainees deserved the treatment they meted out; that it was, in effect, justified. Have any of them gone on to careers in corrections, for example, where they might act in a similar way?
I'm curious what the guards that carried out the abuse described in this book feel about what they did. Is it something they continue to rationalize, as in 'just following orders, I had no choice.' Did the experience change their view humanity and of themselves? Were they confirmed in the view that the detainees deserved the treatment they meted out; that it was, in effect, justified. Have any of them gone on to careers in corrections, for example, where they might act in a similar way?
November 25, 2021
Wow. 10/10
February 1, 2022
Difficult book to read. It's profoundly moving and immensely disheartening.
February 8, 2022
One of the most important books I’ve ever read. I can only hope that everyone (especially Americans) read this.
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