martin mubanga

This is Martin Mubangas testimony as related to the muslims outside the US. Embassy on Friday.

“The first hunger strike…a direct result of the mistreatment of the Koran by American soldiers.

Brother Raoul from Tipton (released) told me he had put his Koran in a mask which was hanging at the side so that it was not on the floor of his cage. The soldier put the Koran on the floor. The brother told him to put it back, to which the soldier replied

“What, this thing?” and kicked it across the floor.

The brothers went on hunger strike as a direct result of this. Abdul Aziz (Kuwaiti) was on hunger strike for one year.”

Mubanga went on:

“When I was moved to camp delta charlie block, cell 33, Raoul from Tipton was in the next cage. 5-7 soldiers came in and searched the cage. Two held my hands on my head and turned me round. Brother Raoul saw a soldier pick up the Koran and throw it on the floor. He told the soldier “that is our Koran” and rebuked the soldier with harsh words.

The soldiers had heard that I was an extremely dangerous martial artist and wanted to start a fight with me. This was one of the methods they used. Throwing the Koran on the floor. My Koran. My cage.

This was in the first few months, but this activity continued and increased. A man called Shakhir organized the brothers to try and rectify the situation.

He requested General Miller to place a sign in each cage, notifying soldiers not to handle or touch the Koran. They used the excuse that as new soldiers turned up, they were unaware of the issues surrounding the Koran…We were not asking for a gymnasium or swimming pools…General Miller refused…so…brothers refused to comply with demands and requests…they would not come out of their cells for interrogation.

Many brothers were beaten as a result of this and were forced to go outside..they had their hair and beards shaved…I witnessed one man beaten…offering no resistance…he very nearly lost an eye..This was Samir, who used to work for al-Jazzera television.

I witnessed a man over 60 who was dragged out for participating in this protest over the treatment of the Koran.

This is not something new. It is old news. It is a shame that we have to wwait for a magazine which does not have our interests and the interests of the uma at heart to print and then retract this story.”