The General: The ordinary man who challenged Guantanamo - Hardcover

Errachidi, Ahmed; Slovo, Gillian

4.08

38 ratings by Goodreads

9780701187224: The General: The ordinary man who challenged Guantanamo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0701187220 ISBN 13: 9780701187224

Publisher: Chatto & Windus, 2013

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On 11 September 2001, in a caf� in London, Ahmed Errachidi watched as the twin towers collapsed. He was appalled by the loss of innocent life. But he couldn’t possibly have predicted how much of his own life he too would lose because of that day.

In a series of terrible events, Ahmed was sold by the Pakistanis to the Americans in the diplomatic lounge at Islamabad airport and spent five and a half years in Guantanamo. There, he was beaten, tortured, humiliated, very nearly destroyed.

But Ahmed did not give in. This very ordinary, Moroccan-born London chef became a leader of men. Known by the authorities as The General, he devised protests and resistance by any means possible. As a result, he spent most of his time in solitary confinement. But then, after all those years, Ahmed was freed, his innocence admitted.

This is Ahmed’s story. It will make you rethink what it means to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will also make you look anew at courage, survival, justice and the War on Terror.

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Review:

"A revelation. People need to read this book" Mark Haddon "Those who doubt Guantanamo exemplifies American power should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived to tell the truth" John Pilger "One of the many things that you are left feeling by Errachidi's account is that there is no such thing as an "ordinary man"; another is that his extraordinary story, with all its surreal and brutal twists, needed telling" -- Tim Adams Observer "Remarkable... The General purports to be the story of just one man but this compelling read speaks for every innocent victim in the War on Terror, from the 3,000 murdered on 9/11 to the 30,000 Iraqi and Afghan civilians" -- Marco Giannangeli Sunday Express "Anyone at all interested in the state of human rights or democracy in the 21st century should read this. It's a profoundly humane testimonial written by a person whose kindness and dignity uplift. His treatment at the hands of the US Administration beggars belief" Emma Thompson "This is not the first published account of life in Guantanamo, but it is perhaps the most moving" -- David Rose Mail on Sunday "An account of life in Guantanamo Bay is an unlikely place to turn for a lesson in happiness, but Ahmed Errachidi offers just that" -- Maggie Fergusson Intelligent Life "An important book which provides a valuable insight into the mental and physical trauma suffered by those who were, and continue to be, detained in the living hell that is Guantanamo" -- Paddy McGuffin Morning Star "Both uplifting and terrifying" The Lady "This book documents his honesty, courage and fortitude" New Internationalist "Those who doubt that Guantanamo exemplifies American power in its violent, cruel and grossly single-minded abuse of humanity, should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived, somehow, to tell the truth" John Pilger "Anyone at all interested in the state of human rights or democracy in the 21st century should read this. It's a profoundly humane testimonial written by a person whose kindness and dignity uplift. His treatment at the hands of the US Administration beggars belief. Read it to learn how, as America preaches "war" on terror, it simultaneously, and apparently without shame, practises the ultimate form of terror -- state-sponsored torture -- upon the innocent individual" Emma Thompson

Book Description:

This is Ahmed’s story. It will make you rethink what it means to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will also make you look anew at courage, survival, justice and the War on Terror.

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