Terry Colin Holdbrooks Jr. (July 7, 1983) is an American soldier who worked as a guard at Guantanamo Bay detention camp (GTMO) from 2003 to 2004, where he converted to Islam six months into the job. After converting to Islam, he changed his name to Mustafa Abdullah. He left GTMO in 2004 and afterwards became an advocate for Guantanamo detainees, having called for the closing of GTMO.
Terry Holdbrooks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Terry Colin Holdbrooks Jr. July 7, 1983 |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Mustafa Abdullah |
| Occupation(s) | Speaker, writer, student, volunteer |
Biography
editTerry Colin Holdbrooks Jr. was born on July 7, 1983, to Kelly and Terry Holdbrooks. He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona with his biological parents until the age of seven, when they separated. He then went on to live with his grandparents in Scottsdale, Arizona. He went to Saguaro High School, and graduated in 2001, after which he went to the Conservatory of Recording Arts. In August 2002, Terry enlisted in the US Army.
Terry was deployed to Guantánamo Bay detention camp (GTMO) in June 2003 where his work with the detainees led to him accepting Islam just six months into the job.[1] He has written a book entitled Traitor? which discusses his time in GTMO and what he saw and did.[2] He is an advocate of closing GTMO and relinquishing the land back to Cuba.
He left GTMO in 2004 and was discharged from the Army in October 2005 for "personality disorder".[2] Upon returning home, Terry began his further education and gained a degree from Arizona State University in sociology.
On February 28, 2014, Holdbrooks wrote a statement of support for former detainee Moazzam Begg, upon Begg's arrest for suspicion of supporting terrorism, stating that Begg's actions of helping to keep the peace between Guantanamo Bay guards and detainees represented praiseworthy values.[3]
References
edit- ^ Narayan Lakshman (January 21, 2009). "'Converted' Gitmo guard turns guardian of inmates". The Hindu. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "Guantanamo guard converts to Islam, demands release of detainees". NY Daily News. May 29, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
- ^ "Statement of support from Terry Holdbrooks, former Guantanamo Bay guard". Cageprisoners. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.