Ten years after the arrival of the first prisoners at Guantánamo, human rights activists in the United States and around the world are calling on President Barack Obama to fulfill his promise to close the military camp that still holds 171 prisoners, many of them without trial.
Obama's first big move after coming to the White House was the decree to close the infamous prison in Cuba, but the decision was blocked by Congress, and for now it is almost impossible for the remaining prisoners to leave the camp.
They have been peacefully protesting since January 10, refusing food and daily activities.
171 prisoners remain in the camp - about 90 of them got there by mistake, cleared of suspicion of terrorism, and are hoping for a decision on their release.
"Ten years have passed since the opening of the Guantánamo camp and it is a shame that there are still prisoners there who have not been tried," wrote Cecilia Malmström, the European Commission's Home Affairs Commissioner, and said on Twitter, "President Obama, it's time to fulfill your promise."
Activists of the group "Witnesses Against Torture" in orange overalls and locked in a cage demanded the closure of the camp in front of the White House on Monday, and the White House responded on the same day that it had not given up on the goal.
Since 2002, 779 men have passed through the camp at the US Guantanamo base in the southeast of Cuba.
Many prisoners have said they were tortured, and the government has admitted that interrogation techniques that are now outlawed were used.
The American intelligence agency CIA has admitted that it used the technique of simulated water immersion.
Eight prisoners died at Guantanamo, six of whom were ruled suicides.
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