The Irony of Slahi’s Manuscript
Larry Siems explains, "But Mohamedou's manuscript was not released. It was stamped "SECRET," a classification level for information that could cause serious damage to national security if it becomes public, and "NOFORN," meaning it can't be shared with any foreign nationals or intelligence services…For more than six years, Mohamedou's attorneys carried out litigation and negotiations to have the manuscript cleared for public release." Although the manuscript contains truthful accounts concerning Slahi's detention, the authorities thwart the efforts of its publication. The state violates Slahi's rights which are endorsed by the constitution. The ironic confiscation exemplifies the degree to which the government can subvert the constitution to conceal its blatant constitution which it is supposed to uphold.
The Irony of the Employer
Slahi recounts, “I thought now I will have a problem with my employer because my employer would not take me back because I am suspected of terrorism, and they said they would take care of this. In front of me while I was sitting [there] the highest intelligence guy in Mauritania called my employer and said that I was a good person, we have no problem with [him} and we arrested him for a reason.” However, “His boss did take him back.” The employer’s ironic reaction of rejecting Slahi depicts the stigma which suspects of terror endure even after they have been exonerated by the authorities. The intelligence officer's call should have been sufficient to clear Slahi but it does not. Accordingly, the employer concludes that Slahi is a terrorist when he is not.
The Irony of “New York Daily News”
Larry Siems reports, “The lead editorial in the New York Daily News on March 23, 2010, was titled "Keep the Cell Door Shut: Appeal a Judge's Outrageous Ruling to Free 9/11 Thug." The editorial began: It is shocking and true: a federal judge has ordered the release of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, one of the top recruiters for the 9/11 attacks- a man once deemed the highest-value detainee in Guantanamo." The editorial incorporates untruthful information because Slahi is not a "recruiter of the 9/11 attacks." He has been exonerated, but the media crucifies him by accusing him of terrorism, yet he was not involved in the attacks. The editorial depicts the deep-rooted stigmatization of Muslims. Furthermore, the media may at times propagate false narratives due to inherent prejudice.
The Irony of Chains
Slahi explains, “This compulsion (to write), it turned out, didn’t even require a pen: it got so I would trace my thoughts with my finger on my thigh or in the air by my side. In Guantanamo, this drove my interrogators crazy; they did everything to stop me from writing with my finger on my body... Their solution was to chain my hand tightly at my sides, making it impossible for me to write on my legs. But my finger kept moving anyway.” The chains are envisioned to repress Slahi’s desire for writing. However, his desire to write remains firm. The interrogators are unaware that Slahi’s yearning for writing is an unconscious drive which cannot be suppressed by chains. Besides Slahi lacks the power to tame his desire. The desire proves to be handy when Slahi manages to write a diary which details his encounters at Guantanamo.
The Irony of “The Lord’s Name”
Slahi recounts, “In order to give himself credibility, he (Officer Rami) he kept swearing and taking the Lord’s name in vain. I always wondered whether he thought I believe his garbage, though I always acted as if I did; he would have been angry if I called him a liar.” Invoking the Lord’s name does not surmise that Officer Rami’s assertions are true; he is ‘appealing to authority’ to present himself as trustworthy. His lies are intended to confuse the persons who interrogates so they will divulge the information he is interested in. Although Slahi detects the officer’s manifest lies, he cannot confront him due to the vast power-distance between them.
