The Mauritanian (originally published as Guantánamo Diary)

If you want to know how low the USA has fallen since 9/11 , rather than pretending that the USA is still some kind of moral leader in the world, this book will make it clear –assuming you have any sense of moral decency at all.The best thing about this book is the author himself, who manages to have the fortitude and character to have risen above all the torture, terror, and misery he was put through by the USA in the name of "the War on Terror". Unlike those who authorized and executed his brutal abuse, he harbors no ill will toward anyone.That is a miracle.

Whatever your political views may be, you should check out this account of this man's experience to understand the power and reach of governments when faced with terrorism and suspects who have ties to people who have committed or plotted acts of terror. The whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing does not apply to these individuals--you should read this to follow the course of what a suspected terrorist (whether guilty or innocent) goes through.

I reflected on this book in law school. As I read Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507 (2004), I wonder how many people ever think about a person's right to due process.

I ordered the redacted edition years ago. I have removed it and re-purchased the "Restored Edition" and downloaded it to my various Kindle devices. In each case I only get the original redacted edition, with no explanation or apparent remedy. I wish there were a way to bring this issue to Amazon's attention without rating the Diary itself, which reveals an extraordinary Godly man who follows the teachings of the Prophets Muhammad (can recite the Koran from memory) and Jesus Christ and, like our fellow semites of Israel, does not claim to know that Jesus is any more divine than you or I or Muhammad.

If you are interested in what can happen to a "good Muslim" caught up in the web of US war against terrorism in its early excesses, this is the account you want to read. Mr. Slahi's story is gripping, His description of the various methods of torture he endured is enough to cause spasms in your own back and abdomen as you read. I came away feeling that there has be much hidden from the public regarding the inhumane treatment those incarcerated in the years following 9/11. The only down side to this "diary" is the extreme amount of redaction found throughout the text. If you happened to catch the 60 Minutes piece several weeks ago, this text really fills out the story. Amazing that this gentle man does not direct intense hatred toward the American people in general.

It is hard to give this story less than 5 stars despite the ridiculous US government redactions. (Yes, this is the government in the land of the free and brave! Pfft....) If you follow the footnotes, you get a clear picture of the blackouts, but it takes more time.....Foremost, I can find no words to describe my disgust with the depraved and nefarious US military culture in the Guantanamo prison. It nauseates me and makes me profoundly ashamed of MY country and I am mad as hell!....Slahi is a an intelligent and likable young man. He had the fortitude to tell his story with humor and honesty, and I hate what our military has done to him and others like him. I also hate the fact that our taxes are wasted in this endless repulsive and poisonous game of trying to pin anything on prisoners when there is no proof of any crime at all. How can we be this sick? How can we hold people captive for years and years without any proof of wrong doing while torturing (and it is horrendous and unspeakable torture) them into creating some glorious made up confession to stop the agony and destruction of the bodies and mind. How do we respect our government when the almighty great men in suits allow this to happen? We are so eager to point out finger of blame at other countries for their failure to protect human rights, but WE are just as corrupt as China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc. I am looking forward to the day when I can read this book without redactions. Bravo to the author and all who helped him to get this book published! My eyes are open now and I thank you.

Hands down, the best thing I've read in a long time.This read is extraordinary. It's supremely infuriating and beyond embarrassing to have to say "this is my government doing this."Horrific account of Slahi's heart-wrenching life after being kidnapped by men who are power-hungry and devoid of any ethics whatsoever; the Bush Administration consumed almost a third of Slahi's life by throwing him into a dungeon of hell - literally.Be prepared to lose sleep over deep concern, for both for Slahi and our own state of humanity.After reading the book and researching the validity of his claim of innocence via the links provided by the Editor and other sources, I personally believe this man is precisely who and what he says he is. Sadly enough, the atmosphere of vengeance among the government officials when he was kidnapped prevents anyone, with the power to do something to help him, from bothering.

Read the book or watch the movie and imagine your son or brother in these circumstances. It makes me ashamed.

This is a very remarkable book. Unlike many of the reviews on this Amazon page, my review is of the fully restored version first published in 2017.Slahi is a very remarkable man, and if you believe him, which I do, (partly because his testimony is believable and partly because relentless interrogation over many years failed to produce any evidence whatsoever contradicting him), his book reveals a man of great strength and a wonderful spirit of forgiveness, although he is also very sparky and stands up for himself but always with humour and a shrewd understanding of the situation he is in, which given the way he was treated is almost beyond belief.It’s a great story but for me the most interesting thing, for me as a person who has tended to avoid reading about Guantanamo because frankly it is an unpleasant subject, the most interesting thing is what it reveals about the political background in various Arab countries who have slavishly gone along with the Americans, acting as their jailers and torturers, and also within the USA – the way the different military and intelligence agencies relate with each other and also the American government and justice system.It is also interesting that Slahi thought the Jordanians, although callous, did a much better job as interrogators than the Americans, because they arrived at a judgment about Slahi quickly and easily.Throughout the book Slahi remains vitally interested in his captors and torturers as people and remains open to them. It is this which makes their characters come alive, through Slahi’s compassion for them.

Arrived fast and in good condition but the WHOLE BOOK is completely censored, black lines on every page. I can’t even be bothered to read this if I can’t read everything. Very disappointed.

Finally got round to reading this book and I must admit I wish I'd done so earlier. To say this book is fascinating would be an understatement. It gives you a an unexpected insight that is very enlightening and not at all self pitying or fundamentalist.

Should be compulsory reading - how, because of your past associations you can be judged guilty until you are proved innocent and how the US will use any means to get a conviction they want.

Sadly had to ask for refund as my Kindle couldn't get past 22% of this book as get saying Invalid text.Guess I'll have to invest in book.