This week I graduated w/ excellence from college, at the very top of my class and student of the year. 20 years ago this week, I was kidnapped by warlords in Afghanistan and later sold to the US for bounty. I was 18 yrs old.
Education has always been important to me and to my family. My father insisted my sisters go to school and expected US ALL to get top marks. I left my village at 13 for high school in Sana’a. I knew I wanted to go to college.
When I was sent to #Guantanamo, I protested our inhumane treatment w/ hunger strikes and block riots, I refused to talk to interrogators. For this I was stripped of all “comfort items” including books, pens, paper.
I didn’t have an attorney for more than 8 years, until Andy Hart. We became good friends and he encouraged me to learn English and pursue my college education. He brought me a dictionary and books.
( My lawyer and best friend Andy Hart, died in 2013)
I learned English by reading Around the World in 80 Days, and helped bring classes to #Guantanamo. The classes were terrible and the teachers were told they couldn’t teach us. But it was a start. I wrote this about it my book.
I got so good at English, Andy Hart found a US college that would let me enroll in classes remotely, BUT the US government refused to approve it. I guess it was too dangerous to educate.
The best class at #Guantanamo was taught by a prisoner and my mentor (name?). It was a business class where we wrote a feasibility study and business plan for a business. I wrote about it in my book:
miamiherald.com/news/nation-wo…
When I was released from #Guantanamo in 2016 and sent to Serbia, the tribunal recommended I be able to pursue my higher education. The first university in Belgrade to accept me, unenrolled me because I was held at Guantanamo.
The second one enrolled me, but they were afraid I was a terrorist. Once they got to know me, they understood who I was. Even though I couldn’t pay my tuition, they let me stay. When I graduated, my professors cried they were so proud of me.
I would like to thank all those who helped: Andy Hart, Aunt Beth Jacob @bdjacob13, Antonio Aiello @ar_aiello, Erin Thompson n @artcrimeprof, my thanks to the names on last page of my thesis presentation)... and to you all for your help and support.
I want to also congratulate my little sister, who got high marks this week. I am so proud of you.
مبارك لك أختي الكريمة.
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