Mr. Aymen Sassi, Brother of Nizar Sassi

Families of Guantánamo Detainees

Nizar Sassi

Mr. Aymen Sassi, 21, is the brother of Nizar Sassi, 23, who is imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Aymen lives in Venissieux, a suburb of Lyon, France. He and his brother Nizar are French citizens. Nizar, a former worker for the Venissieux Council government, was 21 when he was detained. In August 2002, Aymen’s family received a postcard from him that stated: “If you want a definition of this place [Guantanamo Bay], you don’t have the right to have rights.” According to Mr. Sassi, his parents have been deeply disturbed by Nizar’s arrest — his father didn’t eat for a week when told he had been detained and was nearly hospitalized due to the stressful developments. Nizar’s legal team have met with the French government twice and have also submitted a complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Nizar’s behalf. The Sassi family is represented by French solicitor Jacques Debray. Andre’ Gerin, the deputy mayor of Venissieux, is quite familar with the Sassi family and is accompanying Aymen Sassi and Mr. Debray to the United States.