Human rights are fundamental for any individual anywhere in the world. The world is always changing and transforming to meet the needs of the increasing globalization and internationalization. In essence, different countries have different sets of human rights. However, there are universal human rights established by international organizations, most notably the United Nations. They are mostly the fundamental freedoms. They include the freedoms of speech, religion, association, expression, and the right to life. Everyone is entitled to these rights, and there are disciplinary measures for countries or leaders who commit crimes that violate the fundamental rights. However, a select group of people seems to be forgotten by the human rights laws. The rights of the prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay and their legal status are not clearly spelled out.
In essence, the prisoners at Guantanamo are mostly terrorists or suspected terrorists. According to reports, the inmates at the station are exposed to harsh treatment because there is an alleged conflict of ownership of the island. American forces use the land as a naval base, but it lies in Cuban territory (Kaplan 49). There is no clear understanding whether the American Constitution has power on the island. However, people sentenced under American jurisdiction are brought to the Island to serve a sentence. As a result of this, their rights are not observed entirely. Most people view his as a form of the American government trying to control the region, and the world as a whole.
One may blame the war on terror for the increased security operations across the world. As a matter of fact, nations are encouraged to invest in safety without and outside their borders. However, it is important to observe human rights of all people whether or not they are suspects of terrorism. When I visited a former suspect of terrorism in Baghdad, he was emotional as he narrated what he went through in the hands of American authorities during his detention at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station.
The individual told me that he was subjected to harsh treatment and that they were verbally assaulted. He also stated that the authorities sexually violated some of the inmates at the station. In fact, some of them contracted sexually transmitted infections. They are never allowed to have contact with the outside world, not even their families and loved ones. It is clear that their human rights are violated in all manners.
The law demands that the American jurisdiction cannot extend to any sovereign country or its territories. It cannot only apply to American land and its territories. Guantanamo Bay is not an American territory (Dudziak and Volpp 847). Therefore, America does not take responsibility for what happens on the island, even though it is a naval station. Consequently, what happens to the inmates at the station is not their responsibility. However, it is clear that whatever happens at the station is done by American authorities under the authority of senior people in the federal system. When the soldiers violate the rights of the prisoners, they deny responsibility and get protection from the senior people. Advocating for the rights of the prisoners at Guantanamo becomes challenging for human rights groups and other international organizations. People are even restricted from getting to the station.
Works Cited
Dudziak, Mary L., and Leti Volpp. "Introduction: Legal Borderlands: Law And The Construction of American Borders." American Quarterly, vol. 57, no.3, 2005, pp. 531-853..
Kaplan, Amy. "Where Is Guantanamo?” American Quarterly, 2005.
