(16 Feb 2016) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY Safi, Morocco - 15 February 2016 1. Sign reading (Arabic/French) "City of Safi" 2. Younis Chekkouri, former Guantanamo detainee, approaching newspaper kiosk 3. Chekkouri picking up newspaper. 4. Close of Chekkouri 5. Chekkour reading French newspaper "Liberation" 6. Various of Chekkouri at kiosk, walking away 7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Youness Chekkouri, former Guantanamo detainee: "I was living in Afghanistan as a tourist, and then I found myself being given up by the Pakistanis to the American army, and then I found myself a terrorist instead of a tourist. And I spent sometime in Guantanamo, carrying the label of a killer, other times not a killer, other times a threat to the United States, other times not a threat to the United States. And finally, innocent." 8. Chekkouri entering cafe, greeting brother Ridouane Chekkouri (wearing blue cap) and nephew Amine Chekkouri 9. Various of Chekkouri fidgeting with hands while seated in cafe 10. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Youness Chekkouri, former Guantanamo detainee: "Guantanamo is hell, as Americans used to call it. The first night we travelled to Guantanamo from Kandahar, they would sing to us we are going to hell. And indeed, when we arrived in Guantanamo, we found it as they described it." 11. Wide of street scene 12. Chekkouri family in downtown Safi 13. Close of Chekkouri 14. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Youness Chekkouri, former Guantanamo detainee: "Youness (referring to himself) has been the victim of all types of torture. I've been the victim of kidnapping, physical and mental rape, physical and mental torture. I experienced Guantanamo internally and externally in my emotions, my heart, and thoughts. But Guantanamo is just a page in a book, and I want to start a new page. A new life in a new world, in a new land. It's not new, but I consider it a new birth in Morocco." 15. Various of Chekkouri walking along the boardwalk, extending his arms. 16. Close of Chekkouri 17. Birds flying in the sky 18. Chekkouri walking as the sun gleams behind him STORYLINE: A former Guantanamo prisoner released after 13 years without charge has said he wants "a new life in a new world". Younis Chekkouri is free in his home country for the first time in two decades. In an interview on Monday with The Associated Press, he described himself as something of a tourist in Afghanistan when he was picked up by bounty hunters along with suspected al-Qaida fighters and others in December 2001 He and his younger brother, Ridouane Chekkouri, who was released from Guantanamo in 2004, sit alongside each other on the terrace of a cafe in their hometown Safi, recounting - and listening - to their shared stories of torture and abuse. As a prisoner in Guantanamo, Younis learned about the new group of Islamic extremists advancing through Syria and Iraq. The 46-year-old vows not to be among the estimated 2,000 Moroccans who have chosen to join the Islamic State group. At least four former Guantanamo inmates from Morocco have joined extremist fighters in Syria, including one later arrested in Spain for recruiting, and the North African kingdom keeps a close watch on the rest. Since his release, Younis has been left to fend for himself, unable to purchase the proper medication to treat his depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Still, he remains hopeful about his future. He is due to be reunited with his Algerian wife, who is in her homeland, in about two weeks. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/0484a3119dc439b20b4a0959042bc7c7

• published: 17 Nov 2016
• views: 1284