As of early 2008, 41 detainees had attempted suicide at Guantanamo and four had succeeded. The government characterized these acts as publicity stunts but refused to release the suicide notes, autopsy reports, or other documents that would help the American people make up their own minds about what happened. In April 2008 we filed a FOIA lawsuit seeking these records. Many documents were released, including some that were the basis for a dramatic front-page story in the Washington Post, “Guards' Lapses Cited in Detainee Suicides.” Eventually the parties resolved all disputes about withholdings and the case was voluntarily dismissed in July 2009.
ACLU v. Department of Defense (Guantanamo Deaths FOIA)
Date filed
April 1, 2008
Status
Closed
Related Issues
Related content
ACLU-D.C. Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Demonstrator Injured by...
March 14, 2023ACLU V. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION...
June 21, 2022![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/shutterstock_2112910133.jpg?itok=EnusV8Uc)
ACLU V. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE – FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CASE...
April 8, 2022ACLU-DC Files Complaint on Behalf of Demonstrator Injured By...
October 14, 2020![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/carousel_slide/thisheicopter.png?itok=f6RmL8Ir)
Dashtamirova v. United States
October 1, 2020![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/matthew-ansley-ihl2q5f-vya-unsplash.jpg?itok=28kzEzxF)
Hassoun v. Searles – challenging indefinite detention without due...
July 13, 2020![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/ferdinand-stohr-198748_0.jpg?itok=nNhqyD2k)
United States v. Bolton – Federal Government Seeks Prior Restraint...
June 22, 2020![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/abraham-osorio-jb3hiaulvko-unsplash.jpg?itok=12Qx_tEU)