The Case Against Rumsfeld: The Victims

Haji Abdul Rahman is a 48-year-old citizen of Afghanistan. Rahman was detained by the United States military for approximately five months, from December 2003 to May 2004. He was held at various locations in Afghanistan, including the Gardez firebase and the Bagram air base. Rahman suffered severe physical and psychological injuries as a result of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

While in custody, American personnel deliberately inflicted pain on Rahman. During interrogation, soldiers forced Rahman to wear blackout goggles and kneel with his hands cuffed behind his back; soldiers then placed a chain through the handcuffs, which they repeatedly jerked to pull his arms and wrench his shoulders and wrists. He was forced to wear extreme restraints, blackout goggles and handcuffs for virtually the entire first month of his detention. After that first month, soldiers placed Rahman in solitary confinement for 15 days and made him wear blackout goggles and sound-deadening headphones for no reason other than to intimidate, humiliate and degrade him.

Like other detainees, Rahman was subjected to sleep deprivation. He was detained in brightly lit areas for approximately three months, during which time military personnel made loud noises to keep him awake. This sleep deprivation was used to disorient and dehumanize Rahman and other detainees.

Rahman was also sexually humiliated. He was forced to strip naked in front of other people and military personnel anally probed him on multiple occasions. Rahman was also forced to wear blackout goggles while he was naked. He was photographed repeatedly without his clothes on.

Rahman continues to feel the effects of the injuries he incurred while detained by the United States. Among other things, he has nerve damage in his leg and back, which causes great pain and occasional near-paralysis; has vision problems; and suffers from memory lapses. Rahman also has emotional problems and is quick to anger, which has caused difficulties with his family and work.


	Haji Abdul Rahman Haji Abdul Rahman is a 48-year-old citizen of Afghanistan. Rahman was detained by the United States military for approximately five months, from December 2003 to May 2004. He was held at various locations in Afghanistan, including the Gardez firebase and the Bagram air base. Rahman suffered severe physical and psychological injuries as a result of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. While in custody, American personnel deliberately inflicted pain on Rahman. During interrogation, soldiers forced Rahman to wear blackout goggles and kneel with his hands cuffed behind his back; soldiers then placed a chain through the handcuffs, which they repeatedly jerked to pull his arms and wrench his shoulders and wrists. He was forced to wear extreme restraints, blackout goggles and handcuffs for virtually the entire first month of his detention. After that first month, soldiers placed Rahman in solitary confinement for 15 days and made him wear blackout goggles and sound-deadening headphones for no reason other than to intimidate, humiliate and degrade him. Like other detainees, Rahman was subjected to sleep deprivation. He was detained in brightly lit areas for approximately three months, during which time military personnel made loud noises to keep him awake. This sleep deprivation was used to disorient and dehumanize Rahman and other detainees. Rahman was also sexually humiliated. He was forced to strip naked in front of other people and military personnel anally probed him on multiple occasions. Rahman was also forced to wear blackout goggles while he was naked. He was photographed repeatedly without his clothes on. Rahman continues to feel the effects of the injuries he incurred while detained by the United States. Among other things, he has nerve damage in his leg and back, which causes great pain and occasional near-paralysis; has vision problems; and suffers from memory lapses. Rahman also has emotional problems and is quick to anger, which has caused difficulties with his family and work.