The Case Against Rumsfeld: The Victims

Said Nabi Siddiqi is a 48-year-old citizen of Afghanistan. Siddiqi was detained by the United States military for nearly two months from July to August 2003 at various locations, including detention facilities in Kandahar and Bagram. During his detention, Siddiqi was subjected to torture or other cruel and degrading treatment.

Siddiqi was forced into painful and abusive positions for long periods during interrogations. Among other tactics, soldiers forced Siddiqi to hold a 15-pound piece of wood in his cuffed hands and maintain a pushup position while he was doused with water. Soldiers would beat Siddiqi if he did not maintain the positions, and also kicked and punched him during the interrogations, while flashing bright lights into his eyes and yelling directly into his ears at top volumes. During one two-week span, military personnel interrogated Siddiqi every night, keeping him handcuffed and blindfolded for that entire period of time.

American forces also exploited Afghan cultural norms to further demean and degrade Siddiqi. Soldiers sexually humiliated Siddiqi by stripping him naked and taking photographs, and by probing his anus. During interrogations, soldiers made animal sounds and demanded to know which animals Siddiqi had sex with, and repeatedly told him that his wife was a slut and his daughter was a street beggar. Soldiers also threw stones at Siddiqi and other detainees while they used the toilet and forced them to publicly expose themselves.

During his detention, U.S. military personnel intentionally ignored Siddiqi's medical needs and treated him in a manner that worsened his health. Upon his detention, soldiers confiscated his asthma inhaler despite his shortness of breath. Soldiers also kept Siddiqi and other detainees from sleeping for lengthy periods by throwing stones at them all night and by awakening them and forcing them to roll around while dousing them with water and verbally abusing them. In addition, Siddiqi was kept for weeks in an outdoor area with no protection from the elements and extreme weather.

As a result of his treatment while in United States custody, Siddiqi suffered severe psychological and physical injuries. He continues to suffer the lasting effects of those injuries. Among other things, he has suicidal thoughts and nightmares, is quick to anger, and suffers from memory loss.


	Said Nabi Siddiqi Said Nabi Siddiqi is a 48-year-old citizen of Afghanistan. Siddiqi was detained by the United States military for nearly two months from July to August 2003 at various locations, including detention facilities in Kandahar and Bagram. During his detention, Siddiqi was subjected to torture or other cruel and degrading treatment. Siddiqi was forced into painful and abusive positions for long periods during interrogations. Among other tactics, soldiers forced Siddiqi to hold a 15-pound piece of wood in his cuffed hands and maintain a pushup position while he was doused with water. Soldiers would beat Siddiqi if he did not maintain the positions, and also kicked and punched him during the interrogations, while flashing bright lights into his eyes and yelling directly into his ears at top volumes. During one two-week span, military personnel interrogated Siddiqi every night, keeping him handcuffed and blindfolded for that entire period of time. American forces also exploited Afghan cultural norms to further demean and degrade Siddiqi. Soldiers sexually humiliated Siddiqi by stripping him naked and taking photographs, and by probing his anus. During interrogations, soldiers made animal sounds and demanded to know which animals Siddiqi had sex with, and repeatedly told him that his wife was a slut and his daughter was a street beggar. Soldiers also threw stones at Siddiqi and other detainees while they used the toilet and forced them to publicly expose themselves. During his detention, U.S. military personnel intentionally ignored Siddiqi's medical needs and treated him in a manner that worsened his health. Upon his detention, soldiers confiscated his asthma inhaler despite his shortness of breath. Soldiers also kept Siddiqi and other detainees from sleeping for lengthy periods by throwing stones at them all night and by awakening them and forcing them to roll around while dousing them with water and verbally abusing them. In addition, Siddiqi was kept for weeks in an outdoor area with no protection from the elements and extreme weather. As a result of his treatment while in United States custody, Siddiqi suffered severe psychological and physical injuries. He continues to suffer the lasting effects of those injuries. Among other things, he has suicidal thoughts and nightmares, is quick to anger, and suffers from memory loss.