Witness to Abuse - Human Rights Watch

The warden determined that until MDC officials had any concrete
evidence from the FBI or other folks, that there was not a terrorist
association or anything of that nature, that the MDC would have to keep
the material witnesses separate and special precautions would apply. 128
Mohdar Abdullah described his detention conditions as a material witness in the
Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan and the MDC in San Diego:
The first month was the worst month I ever experienced in my life. I
was deprived of making any legal calls, any social calls. I was treated so
badly. I was depicted as a terrorist. That was how I was being treated. As
a result they disrespected me a lot.
When I was transferred, the U.S. marshals were beyond terrible. I
cannot find any word to describe them. They have no sense of humanity
at all. … They dragged me with my shackles on. They physically and
verbally harassed me and called me all kinds of names. They put me in
humiliating situations.
They would say that you’re a terrorist, call us “fucking rats,” and drag
[us] with our shackles on. Every time they’d look at us they’d spit on the
floor. They’d say that they are going to hang you; they are going to kill
you. That you don’t belong here.
The cell was small and really dirty. They didn’t give me any personal
hygiene things—one bar of soap and no tooth paste … I saw no
sunlight in Manhattan.
We were always being viewed as a terrorist. They’d tell us that you are
about to be prosecuted. Once a U.S. attorney told me if I don’t talk
now, I will talk later—they would pass a recommendation onto Yemen
or deport me to Algeria. 129
128
Ibid. U.S. Deputy Marshal Scott Shepard also testified: "[M]y understanding is that our office treats anyone
who is brought in as a material witness regarding the September 11 or any of the other embassy bombing
trial[s], or anything like that, is treated as a security risk."). Ibid.
129
Interview with Mohdar Abdullah.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH VOL. 17, NO. 2(G) 42