New York Times reporter Charlie Savage describes the impact of an article he wrote about an ex-Guantanamo detainee – on readers, the subject and the writer.
The journalist interviews Ahmed Abdul Qader, a Yemeni man who was imprisoned on charges of terrorism for a period of 13 years during Bush’s presidency. After his release, he found refuge in Estonia, a foreign country that has offered him a new beginning.
“He expressed gratitude to Estonia for taking him in. Its refugee program provides him with the apartment, health care, language classes, a small monthly stipend and a mentor to help him navigate daily life.
He smiled often and spoke with optimism about the future when we talked. But he also lapsed into despondency about his separation from his family, his lost youth, and his “hurt” when people call him a terrorist. He portrayed himself as paralyzed by anxiety about what others — the police, potential friends or employers — will assume about him.
‘Thirteen years of my life I wasted, and it’s not because of something I did,’ he said. ‘It’s because something went wrong around me, and I got the blame for it.'”
Find the article on the New York Times website: