PARlS ) The story of Mohamedou Old Slahi, the man from Mauritania who spent nearly 14 years in the American prison of Guantánamos without being accused or tried, has returned to the center of attention in France following the broadcast of the film “Désigné Coupable” on channel France 2, the evening of October 11th.
According to the French portal Serieously, director Kevin Macdonald, internationally known as The Mauritan, relates the extraordinary story of a man who was arrested following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The main role is French actor Tahar Rahim, while Oscar award winner Jodie Foster performs American lawyer Nancy Hollander, who fought for his release.
Mohamedou Old Slahi was arrested in Mauritani in November 2001 after US authorities suspected his ties to the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation.
He moved to Guantánamo in 2002, where he remained for more than 14 years without ever being charged with criminal charges.
During his imprisonment, Slah was subjected to torture, isolation, and harsh interrogation methods, which were later documented in international investigations and reports.
In 2010, an American federal judge ordered his release, but the decision was rejected by the American administration. Slah remained in prison for another six years until October 17, 2016.
While in Guantánamo, he wrote his memoirs in a manuscript that was later published with the title “Guantánamo Diary”
The book became an international bestseller and served as a basis for 2021 film.
But what has aroused particular interest after broadcasting on French television is his current life.
According to Seoul, Slah is alive and lives in the Netherlands, where he continues to engage in scriptures and public activities.
In an interview given for Radio Prague International during 2025, he showed that he finally felt free and that writing had become an essential part of his life.
He described himself as a man who had managed to find inner freedom even during his years of imprisonment.
His story has taken another dimension through the film, where Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailen Woodley also perform.
Jodie Foster won the Golden Globe award for best secondary actress in 2021, thanks to the interpretation of attorney Nancy Hollander.
The broadcast of the film in France 2 has restored one of the best-known cases of non-trial detention in the history of the American war against terrorism, raising questions about justice, human rights and the consequences of being imprisoned in Guantàmo.
For Mohamedo Ould Slahi, the story did not end with release from prison. Today, he continues to share his experience with the public, turning a long period of suffering into a confession of freedom and survival.
