Guantanamo Diary

Mohamedou Ould Slahi- The main character. He is detained (never arrested) in Mauritania, taken to Jordan, and then to Guantanamo where he was tortured for just shy of 15 years. 

Mr. X- One of Slahi’s interrogators, perhaps the worst one, Mr. X’s real identity isn’t revealed, but he was “a celebrity among the torture squad” (230). Mr. X. used different types of torture on Slahi, including throwing him onto a dirty floor, beatings, playing loud music, using color blinkers, and participating in a 24-hour interrogation. He typically replaced SSG Mary after her shifts. 

Samantha- One of Slahi’s interrogators at Guantanamo was Samantha (whose real identity isn’t revealed). She worked with Lieutenant Ronica on a team. Slahi disliked Samantha and calls her “an evil person” (210). 

SFC Shally- One of Slahi’s interrogators at Guantanamo was Sergeant First Class. Slahi nicknamed Shally “I- AM-THE-MAN” (212). Shally directed some of the author’s torture sessions because he “was chosen with some others to do the dirty work” (212) and repeatedly insulted Slahi’s religion. 

Captain Collins- Real Name Richard Zuley, the main overseer of torture in Guantanamo in 2003 

SSG Mary- She prefers sexual assault as torture. Slahi thinks of her as a friend and one of the nicer guards by the end of her time as an interrogator 

Amy- Near the end of the book Slahi meets Amy, they have a falling out when she leaves to go on a trip with her boyfriend.