Dhul Hijjah Global Activism Drive: Close Guantanamo

Join MuslimMatters and CAGE this Dhul Hijjah for its first ever Dhul Hijjah Global Activism Drive. This year’s drive, Close Guantanamo, is an initiative to harness the political power of the Muslim ummah during a very sacred time of year. MuslimMatters is proud to collaborate with CAGE for its inaugural Dhul Hijjah Global Activism Drive.

Then-President George W. Bush of the United States government opened the Guantanamo Bay detainment facility in 2002. It exclusively houses Muslim prisoners and has gained notoriety for its brutal torture of inmates. The U.S. military has continued operating Guantanamo Bay in a legal no-man’s land and still exists today, over 20 years later. You’ll find plenty of educational resources about this issue on MuslimMatters during Dhul Hijjah, so visit muslimmatters.org daily to learn more about this cause.

A Call to Action

Guantanamo Bay is not an aberration. It is one of the most notable symbols of an ever-expanding counter-terror network steeped in Islamophobic assumptions and actions. As a community, we must take effective, informed, and practical action to raise awareness around the injustices and abuses that are taking place in real time. Our advocacy works on multiple levels: from learning to sharing information, from supporting the organizations who are dedicated to this work, and to re-examine the narratives that distort our understanding of state abuse against the belief and practice of observant Muslims.

This is the time for all of us to organize and ally with one another to call for accountability on behalf of those who are unable to advocate for themselves. Guantanamo Bay is more than just a symbol, it is our obligation towards the oppressed and to our own selves. It is a signpost pointing to the work ahead for all of us. We must unite together and stand firm to raise our voices for justice, together.

 

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Action Plans: Close Guantanamo

Let’s gather our voices and actions during one of the most sacred times of the year and help close Guantanamo Bay once and for all. Fill your scales of good deeds and take action to free our wrongly imprisoned brothers-in-Islam. The Prophet said, “Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release the one in prison.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5373; Book 70, Hadith 1]. You can participate  with the following action plans detailed below for this year’s Dhul Hijjah Global Activism Drive: Close Guantanamo Bay.

Help close Guantanamo Bay with us this Dhul Hijjah with these action plans. You’ll find 3 different tiers of participation. Every single reader can easily participate in the Bronze action plan, but we at MuslimMatters and CAGE strongly encourage you to participate in the Silver and Gold action plans as well.

Bronze Action Plan

• Sign this petition to Free Muhammad Rahim: Innocent Afghan with Suspected Cancer in Guantanamo.
• Contact a local government representative, no matter where you live, and ask them to support the closing of Guantanamo once and for all. Find a sample letter you can send here.

Silver Action Plan

• Show your support for Close Guantanamo and help spread the word through social outreach.
  1. Change your social media photos for the Action Drive. Brows images you can use at the bottom of this article.
  2. Join us on Close Guantanamo Day of Action (July 22nd) to get #CloseGauntanamo trending on Twitter. Tweet about Guantanamo with tweets of your own or with the following drafted tweets located here. If you keep an eye out on the MuslimMatters’ Twitter, you can also find the drafted tweets there.
• Donate to CAGE! You can use our MuslimMatters exclusive link so that we can track how much our readers have contributed this Dhul Hijjah!

Gold Action Plan

• Host a khutbah at your masjid on the International Close Guantanamo Day of Action, July 22nd. Find the khutbah guide here!
• Reach out to your elected officials, veterans, religious leaders, and celebrities/high profile personalities to sign onto the 8 Point Plan to Close Guantanamo. This plan was drafted by Guantanamo detainees. Find a sample letter you can send here.

Full Resource List

Educational Publications on MuslimMatters:

Activism Drive Resources:

• Petition: Free Muhammad Rahim: Innocent Afghan with Suspected Cancer in Guantanamo.
• Sample letter to send to elected officials and high profile contacts.
• Tweets to get #CloseGuantanamo trending on July 22nd, Close Guantanamo Day of Action,
• Donate to CAGE with our MuslimMatters exclusive link.
• Khutbah template for International Close Guantanamo Day of Action, July 22nd.
• Photo to use on you social media platforms, included below. Please download and use.

Social Media Photos To Use

Facebook Cover

Instagram Post

Instagram Post

Instagram Post

Instagram Post

Related Reading:

Podcast: Lost & Found At Guantanamo Bay With Mansoor Adayfi

The Stories We Tell: Guantanamo Bay In Normative American History And The Present

Guantánamo No More: 10th Anniversary of the Draconian Prison