In other news, protests and vigils were held around the world Thursday to mark the International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo. In Cuba, the American peace activist Cindy Sheehan led a march of 50 people to the military barrier surrounding the Guantanamo prison. Here in the United States, hundreds of people gathered outside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C. Close to 100 protesters were later arrested inside the courthouse after raising signs with slogans including “Stop Torture” and “Shut Down Guantanamo.” Amnesty International organized rallies outside U.S. embassies around the world. In London, more than 400 people dressed in orange jumpsuits like those worn by Guantanamo prisoners. In Madrid, protesters delivered embassy officials a petition calling for Guantanamo’s closure.

Amnesty International member Jerry Saderes: “Many governments don’t want to talk about it because they think that terrorism is more important than civil rights. We are not defending terrorism, we are defending those who are not involved.”

Meanwhile at the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the calls to shut down Guantanamo.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “I would say that [on] today’s fifth anniversary of the Guantanamo prison, like my predecessor, I believe that the prison at Guantanamo should be closed.’

Opposition was also heard from Afghanistan, where most Guantanamo prisoners were captured.

Afghan Human Rights Commissioner Ahmad Nader Nadery: “Of course we join all those human rights organizations, mainly the human right high commissioner for human rights in her call for closing the facilities in Guantanamo Bay. We do hope that this happens in relation to the Afghan detainees, that the Afghan detainees to be transferred to the Afghan authority if the decision was made.”