When Moazzam Begg was seized by U.S. forces in the aftermath of 9/11, he had committed no crime. He spent years in Bagram prison in Afghanistan and then Guantanamo Bay, enduring interrogation, solitary confinement, and brutal treatment — all without a single charge. Yet when he finally walked free, fully exonerated, he did not emerge filled with hatred. Instead, he showed the world what Islam truly teaches about forgiveness, patience, and justice — virtues that stem from unwavering faith in Allah.
Innocence Denied: Detained Without Evidence or Due Process
In Guantanamo Bay, the foundational legal principle of “innocent until proven guilty” was inverted. Over 800 prisoners from more than 40 countries were held, and not a single one was released through a proper legal proceeding. There were no Miranda rights, no legal representation, no access to courts. Many detainees ended up there not because of credible intelligence, but because of paid bounties — leaflets offering $5,000 per person were dropped across Afghanistan, incentivizing people to hand over neighbors, rivals, or strangers. Military prosecutors themselves resigned, calling the proceedings a “kangaroo court.” The facts of this injustice include:
- Moazzam Begg was held for two years in Guantanamo and additional time in Bagram, Afghanistan — then released with zero charges
- No detainee at Guantanamo has ever been convicted of anything related to 9/11, even after more than two decades
- Multiple U.S. military prosecutors resigned, stating the legal process violated even military law standards
- Many prisoners were sold to U.S. forces by bounty hunters exploiting tribal feuds in Afghanistan
- Former Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo later became ministers in the Afghan government and negotiated directly with U.S. officials, proving the “worst of the worst” label was false
- A category of “forever prisoners” remains — people with no evidence against them yet deemed “too dangerous to release,” trapped in legal limbo with no path to justice
How Islam Transformed Suffering Into Strength
“I was on a military transport plane, hands tied behind my back, hood over my head, a knife held to my throat by an American soldier who told me he would slit it if I spoke again. At that exact moment, a Libyan brother next to me said ‘Allahu Akbar’ and began reciting the opening prayer. So I prayed — shackled, hooded, with a blade at my neck. That was my first prayer in U.S. military custody. So I ask people: when you say you cannot pray, what is your excuse?”
Far from producing atheists, Guantanamo became a place where faith deepened. Prisoners memorized the entire Quran. They supported one another regardless of ethnicity or nationality. Their patience and devotion had a profound effect — not only on fellow detainees, but on the very guards assigned to watch over them. Several American soldiers, witnessing the unshakeable faith of these Muslims in the worst possible conditions, began questioning their own emptiness. Some of those guards ultimately accepted Islam, including a female soldier who later contacted Begg to say the seed of faith was planted in her heart at Guantanamo. A Sudanese former prisoner, upon hearing her story, said that if his six years of torture led to even one person finding Islam, then every moment of that suffering was worth it. Even William Rodriguez, the 9/11 hero janitor who received an award from President Bush for saving lives, eventually took his shahada after experiencing the warmth and sincerity of Muslims firsthand.
Forgiveness as an Act of Faith, Not Weakness
“Do not allow your animosity or hatred of a people to cause you to do them an injustice. Be just — that is closer to God-consciousness.” This verse from the Quran became Moazzam Begg’s guiding principle. He forgave guards who sought forgiveness, befriended former soldiers who showed humanity, and continues to work alongside them in advocacy and dialogue.
- Begg remains close friends with several former Guantanamo guards, including Terry Holdbrooks and Steve Wood, who have traveled and campaigned with him
- Small acts of humanity from soldiers — a smuggled DVD, a Cadbury egg to remind him of home, a piece of freshly caught fish — sustained his spirit during years of solitary confinement
- Rather than seeking vengeance, Begg follows the prophetic example: when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conquered Mecca, he declared “There is no vengeance upon you this day. Go, for you are free” — echoing Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), who forgave the brothers that had wronged him
- Islam teaches that the pursuit of peace requires justice, not revenge — and Begg embodies this by holding governments accountable while extending personal forgiveness
The Quran on Justice: A Message the World Needs
Harvard University displays on its wall a verse from the Quran: “O you who believe, stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even if against yourselves.” This is the essence of Islam — a faith that commands justice even toward your enemies, that values every human life as sacred, and that teaches patience and trust in Allah through the most unimaginable trials. Moazzam Begg’s story is living proof that Islam does not breed hatred; it cultivates forgiveness, resilience, and an unbreakable bond with the Creator. His message to the world is simple: stop using Muslims as scapegoats, seek truth with an open heart, and remember that the same faith that sustained innocent men through torture and injustice is the faith that teaches them to forgive, to love for humanity what they love for themselves, and to spread peace — not hatred — across this world.
