Help Guantanamo torture survivor Walid al Hajj is a Sudanese national of Nubian origin who was held without charge or trial in Guantanamo for almost 7 years. He is one of only 70 odd prisoners who survived the massacre at Qala-i-Jangi in Afghanistan - which saw the largest mass-killing of prisoners in US military history. Waleed became a household name in the Arab world after his story of the massacre was broadcast on Al Jazeera. He also told his story to me in one of the most vivid and shocking interviews I've ever conducted . The excerpt below gives you an idea of what he endured before he arrived at Guantanamo: "The rooms were filled with corpses of brothers, their blood, excrement and waste. The water began to slowly rise and we had nowhere to escape. Anyone injured who could not stand up just drowned, right in front of us. We could do nothing. We were wounded ourselves. We saw and heard, the final gargles and gasps of breath as the water filled their lungs while they said, “Ash-hadu an laa ilaha ill-Allah, ash-hadu an laa ilaha ill-Allah…” [I bear witness that there are no gods but Allah…]” "Yet, even in this there was a gruesome blessing in disguise. We hadn’t drunk water for several days. We were so thirsty. The water began to rise to our chests and necks. If you were taller, you lived a little longer, the shorter ones drowned before. Yet drinking the water, which contained blood, faeces, urine, diesel – and Allah knows what else – came as relief that's hard to describe. We had to push away the floating bodies of our dead brothers and just drink with the words: “By He with whose name nothing can cause harm on the earth or the in skies; He is the All-Hearing All-Knowing.”" Waleed was freed from Guantanamo in 2008 and has since started a family. I was even able to visit him in 2010. However, last year Waleed suffered the loss of two of his children. Shortly after the civil war began in Sudan (a few months ago), he also lost his mother. War in Sudan has adversely affected thousands of people. Despite his immense trials, Waleed remains responsible for taking care of several family members - including his own. I've never known Waleed to seek help before but I know his situation is dire. He is an unbelievably calm and patient man and is extremely helpful towards others and spares no effort to assist those in need. I've witnessed this myself. But this time it's my turn, our turn, to help. Waleed wants to establish his own business not only so he can be self-sufficient but so that he can provide the most staple food source for people in his locality. A bakery can help him achieve this goal and help support those around him for many years to come as a viable and sustainable form of income. He estimates the project will cost around £7,500. I'm certain that together we can reach this target - and more - easily so that this man, this brother, who has faced and survived extraordinary trauma, can get a boost and kick-start in life for himself and his family. Please donate what you can. May Allah accept it from you.
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