Through the Gates of Hell: Joshua Colangelo-Bryan on the Fight for Justice at Guantanamo Bay
- Admin
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
Many are familiar with the haunting reports from Guantanamo Bay, the notorious detention facility where inhumane conditions and routine torture became the grim reality for detainees. For decades, lawyers fought an uphill battle for justice, often with limited access to their clients - detainees who were often held without charge or trial for years. One of those lawyers is Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, who has recently taken on the role of Special Counsel at Human Rights First, a prominent human rights NGO.
In this episode of the Activist Lawyer Podcast, Joshua talks with host Sarah Henry about his path to law, his deep commitment to human rights and international law, and the inspiration behind his new book. Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay chronicles Joshua’s journey navigating the complex legal challenges in the fight for justice, particularly for detainees like his friend Jaber Mohammed, a former Guantanamo detainee.
Joshua’s passion for justice began long before Guantanamo. He started his legal career focused on workplace harassment prevention, and thought about becoming an employment lawyer, a natural progression based on his early experience. But in 1999, as the NATO bombing of Kosovo came to an end, Joshua felt compelled to do something more impactful. He travelled to Kosovo, working on an emergency shelter project in the wake of the devastation caused by the Serbian and Yugoslav militaries. It was there that his interest in international law and human rights was ignited.
Today, as part of Human Rights First, Joshua continues his advocacy for human rights worldwide, while also promoting his new book. Despite his busy schedule, his thoughts often return to the former Guantanamo detainees he fought for, many of whom he remains in regular contact with. Joshua comments that he still finds it surreal to see these men, who were once shackled in jumpsuits, now living normal lives. Jaber Mohammed, his good friend, even helped Joshua’s teenage daughter with her school project - examining Guantanamo Bay.
About Joshua Colangelo-Bryan
Joshua Colangelo-Bryan is Special Counsel at Human Rights First, where he spearheads impact litigation and advocacy efforts to uphold democratic principles and support defenders of human rights. Beyond representing Guantanamo detainees, he has sued Turkey for assaulting protestors in Washington, D.C., the Trump administration for attempting to deport a college student based on protest activity, and a U.S. pastor who fomented legislation in Uganda criminalizing the LGBTQI community. Josh has conducted human rights investigations in countries such as Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain. He also served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.
To find out more on Through the Gates of Hell, American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay,
For more on the work of Human Rights First, please see: https://humanrightsfirst.org/
