Guantánamo Diary (memoir)
.jpg) First edition (redacted) | |
| Author | Mohamedou Ould Slahi |
|---|---|
| Genre | Memoir |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
Publication date | 2015 |
Guantánamo Diary is a 2015 memoir[1][2] written by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, whom the United States held, without charge, for fourteen years.[3][4] Slahi was one of the few individuals held in Guantánamo Bay detention camp whom U.S. officials acknowledged had been tortured.[5][6] The 2015 edition was heavily redacted by U.S. intelligence officials.[7] In 2017 a "restored edition" was published with redactions removed.[8]
History
[edit]Slahi wrote the book in 2005 in the English he had learned largely in Guantánamo.[3] Each page had to be submitted to military censors who made 2,500 redactions before releasing the manuscript to Slahi's attorneys seven years later.[1] Editor Larry Siems edited the handwritten manuscript passed to him by Slahi's lawyers. The memoir was auctioned and published while Slahi was still being held without charge.
Many reviewers were surprised at how lacking in bitterness Slahi was since he had been subjected to brutal torture.[9]
In 2017, the book was republished with the redactions restored.[10]
Film rights
[edit]Movie producers bought an option on the rights to make a movie from the memoirs in June 2015.[11] Producers Lloyd Levin and Michael Bronner had previously collaborated on the films United 93 and Green Zone. In 2016 a team of producers, including Benedict Cumberbatch, came aboard.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Danner, Mark (January 20, 2015). "'Guantánamo Diary,' by Mohamedou Ould Salahi". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "Mohamedou Ould Salahi's Guantánamo Diary". Guantanamo Diary. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b Flood, Alison (2014-08-12). "Guantánamo prisoner to publish 'harrowing' memoirs". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
- ^ "Blame game: After years of legal wrangling, Mohamedou Ould Salahi's prison diary finally comes out. A sad and sickening read". The Economist. 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
- ^ Larry Siems (2013-05-01). "He Reminded Me of Forrest Gump". Slate magazine. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
- ^ Mohamedou Salahi (2013-04-30). "Guantánamo Memoirs: Part One". Slate magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
- ^ Mohamedou Ould Salahi (2015). Siems, Larry (ed.). Guantanamo Diary. Canongate. ISBN 9781782112846. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Mohamedou Ould Salahi (2017). Siems, Larry (ed.). Guantanamo Diary (Restored ed.). New York: Little, Brown & Co. ISBN 9780316517881. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Ian Cobain (16 Jan 2015). "Guantánamo diarist Mohamedou Ould Slahi: chronicler of fear, not despair". The Guardian.
- ^ Salahi, Mohamedou Ould (October 23, 2017). "My Guantánamo Diary, Uncensored". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^
Mike Fleming (2015-06-02). "Movie Deal For 'Guantanamo Diary', Terror Suspect's Tale Of 14-Year Prison Stretch Despite No Charges Or Trial". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
Lloyd Levin and Michael Bronner, who were producers on those films, intend to bring to the screen the story of a suspected terrorist who has been incarcerated at that detention camp since 2002, without ever being charged with a crime or having the opportunity to defend himself in court.
- ^
Anita Busch (2016-04-11). "Benedict Cumberbatch Comes Aboard 'Guantanamo Diary' As Producer". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland and their company SunnyMarch have come aboard to produce Guantanamo Diary along with ZeroGravity's Mark Holder and Christine Holder.