On the Anniversary of 9/11: The U.S. Wars Never Stopped!
The United States (US) has continued to wage wars in various forms since the September 11, 2001 attacks. The entire world has become a battlefield for US and allied campaigns against "terrorism" often disregarding international humanitarian law and human rights standards.
In the aftermath of "Black Tuesday," American leaders set new precedents that went beyond established international norms. This shift began with President George W. Bush’s address to Congress nine days after the attacks, in which he proclaimed to the world: "You are either with us or with the terrorists." Bush further asserted that any nation harboring or supporting terrorism would be considered a hostile regime by the US. He placed the country on "war alert", emphasizing that the only way to defeat terrorism was to "stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it at its source."
This speech marked the beginning of a US strategy aimed at reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and Central Asia, extending American influence. As a result, US interventions in Islamic countries became commonplace, justified by the "war on terror."
In this context, US political rhetoric intensified Islamophobia in the West, sparking widespread harassment and targeting of Muslim communities. These individuals saw their rights eroded, particularly in terms of personal freedoms and security. Hate speech against Muslims continues to be a significant concern for these communities across Western societies.
The US initiated a large-scale military campaign, beginning in Afghanistan and expanding to Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen. Simultaneously, a covert war unfolded, involving the secret rendition of terrorism suspects who endured brutal torture at CIA black sites and the notorious US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This covert operation came to light in a 2014 report by the US Senate Intelligence Committee, spanning over 700 pages, which condemned the CIA's actions within its counterterrorism detention program, criticizing both the extent of the abuses and the agency's efforts to downplay and misrepresent the program's effectiveness.
Counterterrorism Terror
Rachid Mesli, director of Alkarama, asserts: "The September 11 attacks were a blatant disregard for human rights, but the wars that followed, led by the US and its allies, perpetuated this denial under the pretext of counterterrorism. These conflicts have resulted in severe abuses, including acts that could be classified as crimes against humanity."
Mesli cited various examples, such as extrajudicial killings, especially by drones, as well as torture, enforced disappearances, and other severe violations.
The most recent case handled by Alkarama involved Libyan citizen Mustafa Faraj Mohammed Masoud al-Jadidi al-Azibi, also known as "Abu Faraj al-Libi." On November 29, 2022, Alkarama submitted his case to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD). Al Libi has been held arbitrarily at Guantanamo Bay since his transfer from a CIA black site on September 4, 2006. He was initially arrested on May 2, 2005, in Pakistan by Pakistani special forces and then transferred to US forces. He was later detained in secret prisons in Afghanistan and Romania, where he was subjected to torture that resulted in the loss of his hearing.
Guantanamo Bay Detention Center
Twenty-three years after the September 11 attacks, the Guantanamo Bay detention facility remains operational, with prisoners held in violation of fundamental human rights. Despite numerous promises to shut it down and persistent calls for its closure from successive UN High Commissioners for Human Rights and independent UN experts, these appeals have been ignored.
Alkarama has addressed numerous cases involving Guantanamo detainees, but Al Libi's case is particularly striking. It exemplifies what UN experts have described as a "Kafkaesque situation", where the rule of law appears irrelevant and the state's coercive and brutal power prevails unchecked.
Drone Attacks
The US "targeted killings" program became a defining feature of its expanding wars following the September 11 attacks, affecting multiple countries such as Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia. Alkarama carried out extensive field investigations in Yemen, visiting various sites to document US drone strikes and collect witness testimonies. The organization submitted numerous complaints, supported by official mandates from victims' families, and produced reports with evidence and survivor accounts, shedding light on the devastating impact of these drone attacks on civilian populations.
The "war on terror" strategy adopted by the US and its Western and Arab allies since the September 11 attacks has been a profound failure in addressing violent extremism. Rather than mitigating the issue, it has exacerbated and spread it. Additionally, this approach has entrenched human rights violations and a culture of impunity globally. Alkarama, along with numerous international and non-governmental human rights organizations and advocates, underscores that effectively combating violent extremism and terrorism uphold fundamental human rights, justice, and the dignity of all individuals.