America ought to disclose photographs of Guantanamo's minor detainees, depictions of waterboarding, and images of the blood-stained prison cells where inmates were fatally harmed.

In the past two decades, Guantanamo has held multiple meanings for the world, standing alongside Alcatraz and Robben Island as one of history's most notorious prisons. For some, it symbolizes torture, rendition, and indefinite detention without charge or trial. But for one ex-detainee, it was home for 14 long years. Every nook and cranny of the camp is ingrained in his memory, the brutal imagery forever etched in his mind.

Recently, a series of never-before-revealed photos of the original detainees arriving at the detention camp were made public by The New York Times. The images show men in shackles, blindfolds, and ear protectors as they landed at Guantanamo in 2002. Most of what happened within the camp was kept hidden from the public eye, and The NYT stated that the only leaked photos from the facility came from WikiLeaks in 2011. Apparently, the photos were taken to provide Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other Washington leaders a glimpse into the beginning of wartime detention and interrogation. Perhaps to reassure them that the "worst of the worst" were being treated properly.

Upon seeing the photos, the ex-detainee reached out to a WhatsApp group he shares with fellow former detainees, asking if they could identify with what they saw. Predictably, the reactions were mixed. Some expressed sentiments like "I wish I was treated like that," while others questioned if it was a sick joke. The group then delved into discussions about the true events and the unspoken stories behind them, contemplating the alternative narrative if it were ever to be told: "We kidnapped them, abused them, tortured them, set their lives on fire, released them without charge or trial. Now we are going to sugarcoat what we did to them and use photos to deceive the world."

The ex-detainee has a deep emotional connection with each man in the group of survivors. They lived, worshipped, and suffered together, forming a tight-knit community. Even years later, he yearns to hear their stories and understand the impact Guantanamo had on their lives. It's a grim existence, a lifetime of imprisonment, albeit in different forms. Despite being far from the shores of Cuba, they all remain trapped in various ways–both visible and hidden.

One of the brothers reached out after reading the article, remarking, "They can lie to the world here in this life, but a day will come where justice will be served in the Hereafter. And there, in a Divine Court, there will be no lying. It is not over yet."

While some of the events captured in the photos may be familiar to those who have lived the experience, there are many that will never make it to the public eye. You will never see photos of the 60 children held in cages, including a three-month-old baby. A human zoo of vulnerable young ones, far from the comfort of their homes. You will never see the picture of the 105-year-old prisoner who was beaten so badly that blood poured down his aged, decrepit frame. You will not see the force-feeding, the prisoners huddled naked and cold in metal cells for weeks and months in solitary confinement, or the men who lost their lives and had their deaths staged as suicides. You will not see the body bags shipped out, nor hear the stories of those whose organs were taken and bodies left gutted from the inside out.

The Americans enforce their brand of justice, torturing and killing without remorse or hesitation. If they're not careful, they might just expose the very darkness they aim to hide behind sweetened images and disingenuous narratives. The CIA has already destroyed thousands of photographs and videos that attest to the torture that's taken place in CIA black sites worldwide.

Overall, the disclosure of these secret photos offers a glimpse into the harrowing reality of Guantanamo. Yet, they only scratch the surface. For the full story, one must delve deeper, beyond the images, to uncover the unspoken truths and heart-wrenching tales of the men who bore the brunt of unimaginable horror in the name of so-called justice.

The government has been criticized for keeping most of what happened within Guantanamo hidden from the public eye.
The photos of the original detainees arriving at Guantanamo, now public, show men in shackles, blindfolds, and ear protectors.
The UN and various human rights organizations have repeatedly called for an end to the practices used at Guantanamo, such as rendition, indefinite detention, and torture.
The military has been accused of using war crimes, like forced feeding and solitary confinement, in the detention camp.
The court system has failed to provide justice for many detainees, with most being released without charge or trial.
News outlets and investigative journalists have been trying to uncover the truth about Guantanamo for years, but they often face obstacles from the government.
A article on the topic of war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, published by a general-news website, sparked a discussion amongst former detainees about the true events and the unspoken stories behind them.
The photos of the detainees landing at Guantanamo were offered to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other Washington leaders to reassure them that the "worst of the worst" were being treated properly.
The images reflect the stark reality of the prisoners' treatment, contradicting the government's official narrative.
Pressure is mounting on the government to release more information about Guantanamo, as more reports and photos surface, shedding light on the harrowing conditions faced by the detainees.
The Oval Office would do well to acknowledge the injustices that have occurred at Guantanamo and work towards a transparent and accountable resolution, rather than trying to deceive the world with sweetened images and disingenuous narratives.