Film screening of 'The Mauritanian'
and Q&A with Mohamedou Ould Salahi
Wednesday, 9th March 2022
Location: Newnham College
18.00 -19.00 Q&A with Mohamedou Ould Salahi
19.00 -21.00 Film Screening 'The Mauritanian'
Based on the NY Times best-selling memoir "Guantánamo Diary" by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, this is the true story of Slahi's fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. Alone and afraid, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander and her associate Teri Duncan who battle the U.S. government in a fight for justice that tests their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch, uncovers shocking truths and ultimately proves that the human spirit cannot be locked up.—STXfilms
Directed by Kevin Macdonald, starring Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tahar Rahim.
Mohamedou was born in Mauritania. In spite of his humble background he won a scholarship to study electrical engineering in Germany. In 2001 he was living in his home country of Maurtitania when he was detained and renditioned to a black site in Jordan. He was then transported to Guantanamo Bay via Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. He was held for 15 years without charge and tortured. Whilst in his isolation cell he wrote a diary which remained classified for almost eight years. It was published as Guantanamo Diary in 2015 and became an international beststeller, translated into 25 languages. In 2021, the film The Mauritanian, featuring his detainment and eventual release, was released.