Moazzam Begg

NOW, on PBS, has an extended interview with Moazzam Begg, a British Muslim of Pakistani descent who was imprisoned in Bagram, Kandahar and Guantanamo for three years. He appears to be an intelligent, decent person who was wrongfully accused. He might not, however, be as innocent as he claims:

Chris Hogan: I think that he would be mischaracterized if you said that he was a high-level enemy fighter or planner with the capacity to wreak havoc on the US... But at the same time, the image that he paints of himself now of being someone who was an innocent being persecuted by the enormous machine, is not accurate.

Even so, the idea that people guilty of even minor crimes can be put through that meat grinder without recourse to help from outsiders is frightening, indeed. Immediately after 9/11, a Pakistani-Canadian who was studying in the US without a proper visa, was arrested and subjected to a regimen of bright lights and loud music 24/7 for three months. Finally, he was located by an American lawyer and released. He subsequently suffered from mental problems and was unable to work.

It was an emergency situation, true, but it's also true that being opposed to such action is not the same as supporting Al Qaeda. Find the video & podcast here.

Michael K

Posted by MichaelK at July 30, 2006 01:14 PM