Murat Kurnaz

An honest, chilling account of mankind's ability to mistreat another and an individuals strength to carry on and not lose hope or faith. At times so brutal that I had to put the book down because the disgust I felt at his captors and the sorrow for the writer was overwhelming. Some images, particularly that of his fellow prisoner whose legs were amputated, still haunt me and probably always will. Everyone should read this book and shine a light on the darkness, stop believing the carefully constructed portrayals of places like Guantanamo and shut them down.… (mere)

This was, as might be expected, a difficult book to read. I feel, however, that it is important for those of us who can do things like vote in US presidential elections to understand the full measure of atrocities committed against fellow human beings in the name of our national security and 'freedom.' I was astonished at the level of cruelty this man endured, especially for him to come out the other side with honor, dignity and a sense of self intact. Part of me hopes those who are still enduring such despicable treatment in Cuba are as religious as Mr. Kurnaz. Faith in God can be clung to in a place like that, but faith in man will not last forever under such abuse. Mine was shaken by merely the account of it.… (mere)

Kurnaz' homecoming at the end moved me the most. Mistreatment makes me angry, but I am not an angry person by nature. I don’t feel anger in a visceral way. But loss is a whole ‘nother story. Kurnaz married a Turkish girl (who he only names by pseudonym) shortly before traveling to Pakistan. He had no contact with her while imprisoned, and on his return finds out, second-hand, she’s divorced him. Reading his account of meeting his parents and brother brings home the loss. Kurnat also had several close relatives due while he was illegally imprisoned. None of this changes even if he wasn’t tortured.

His account is pretty much what I expected. He’s a likable kid by his own account, and I don’t see a hardened militant faking it his attitude. There are no great revelations, nor will anyone find it much different than other accounts of people held incommunicado. But I believe it’s important to read something from a victim of our national shame, and Kurnaz account does well enough for that purpose.

Full review at my blog: http://reading.kingrat.biz/reviews/five-years-of-my-life-murat-kurnaz… (mere)