Nabil Hadjarab arrived at Gitmo 11 years ago, in an orange jumpsuit and a diaper, his head covered by a hood, eyes blinded by blackout goggles, mouth gagged, and with headphones blaring white noise into his ears.

At 34, Nabil is four years my senior. We both speak French, draw pictures, and, in our youths, liked to travel to desolate places and have adventures. But Nabil’s days of wanderlust may be over forever. Although he’s been cleared for release since 2007, the US will not return him to his family in France.  He has vowed to remain on a hunger strike till he finds freedom or death, whichever happens first. 

-It Don’t Gitmo Better Than This: Inside the Dark Heart of Guantanamo Bay. By Molly Crabapple