Ahmed Errachidi

Gillian Slovo

A revelation. People need to read this book

Those who doubt Guantanamo exemplifies American power should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived to tell the truth

One of the many things that you are left feeling by Errachidi’s account is that there is no such thing as an “ordinary man”; another is that his extraordinary story, with all its surreal and brutal twists, needed telling

Remarkable... The General purports to be the story of just one man but this compelling read speaks for every innocent victim in the War on Terror, from the 3,000 murdered on 9/11 to the 30,000 Iraqi and Afghan civilians

Anyone at all interested in the state of human rights or democracy in the 21st century should read this. It's a profoundly humane testimonial written by a person whose kindness and dignity uplift. His treatment at the hands of the US Administration beggars belief

This is not the first published account of life in Guantanamo, but it is perhaps the most moving

An account of life in Guantanamo Bay is an unlikely place to turn for a lesson in happiness, but Ahmed Errachidi offers  just that

An  important book which provides a valuable insight into the mental and physical trauma  suffered by those who were, and continue to be, detained in the living  hell that is Guantanamo

This book documents his honesty, courage and fortitude

Those who doubt that Guantanamo exemplifies American power in its violent, cruel and grossly single-minded abuse of humanity, should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived, somehow, to tell the truth

Anyone at all interested in the state of human rights or democracy in the 21st century should read this. It's a profoundly humane testimonial written by a person whose kindness and dignity uplift. His treatment at the hands of the US Administration beggars belief. Read it to learn how, as America preaches "war" on terror, it simultaneously, and apparently without shame, practises the ultimate form of terror -- state-sponsored torture -- upon the innocent individual

This eloquent autobiographical novel challenges our ideas about the war on terror and teaches us about human bravery

Well-written and at times moving description of one man's experience of secret prisons and Guantanamo before redemption

The ordinary man who challenged Guantanamo

On 11 September 2001, in a café in London, Ahmed Errachidi watched as the twin towers collapsed. He was appalled by the loss of innocent life. But he couldn’t possibly have predicted how much of his own life he too would lose because of that day. 
 
In a series of terrible events, Ahmed was sold by the Pakistanis to the Americans in the diplomatic lounge at Islamabad airport and spent five and a half years in Guantanamo. There, he was beaten, tortured, humiliated, very nearly destroyed. 
 
But Ahmed did not give in. This very ordinary, Moroccan-born London chef became a leader of men. Known by the authorities as The General, he devised protests and resistance by any means possible. As a result, he spent most of his time in solitary confinement. But then, after all those years, Ahmed was freed, his innocence admitted. 
 
This is Ahmed’s story. It will make you rethink what it means to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will also make you look anew at courage, survival, justice and the War on Terror.

Ahmed Errachidi

Praise for The General

A revelation. People need to read this book

Those who doubt Guantanamo exemplifies American power should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived to tell the truth

One of the many things that you are left feeling by Errachidi’s account is that there is no such thing as an “ordinary man”; another is that his extraordinary story, with all its surreal and brutal twists, needed te ...

A revelation. People need to read this book

Those who doubt Guantanamo exemplifies American power should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived to tell the truth

One of the many things that you are left feeling by Errachidi’s account is that there is no such thing as an “ordinary man”; another is that his extraordinary story, with all its surreal and brutal twists, needed te ...

A revelation. People need to read this book

Those who doubt Guantanamo exemplifies American power should read this epic story of a truly brave man who survived to tell the truth

One of the many things that you are left feeling by Errachidi’s account is that there is no such thing as an “ordinary man”; another is that his extraordinary story, with all its surreal and brutal twists, needed te ...

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