Ex-Guantánamo detainee testifies a former Chicago detective tortured him for months

Ex-Guantánamo Detainee Testifies Against Former Chicago Detective

Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a former Guantánamo Bay detainee, testified in the case of Anthony Garrett, who is seeking a new trial. Garrett claims that retired Chicago police detective Richard Zuley coerced a confession from him through torture in the 1990s.

Garrett’s Allegations

Anthony Garrett, who has been imprisoned for decades for a murder conviction, asserts that Zuley physically and psychologically abused him until he falsely confessed. His defense team argues that Zuley’s interrogation tactics were part of a broader pattern of misconduct within the Chicago Police Department at that time.

Testimony from Slahi

During the hearing, Mohamedou Ould Slahi explained that he was subjected to brutal interrogation techniques led by Zuley while detained at Guantánamo Bay. Slahi described months of physical and emotional torment:

“He tortured me physically, psychologically, and sexually,” Slahi said.

Slahi’s written memoir, later adapted into the film The Mauritanian, detailed his suffering under U.S. custody, which included isolation, beatings, and degradation. His testimony directly connects his ordeal in Guantánamo to Zuley’s past police practices in Chicago.

Zuley’s Record and Response

Public records and investigative reports show that Zuley oversaw several controversial cases during his time as a Chicago detective. Although he has denied wrongdoing, multiple former detainees and defendants have alleged abuse. The city of Chicago has faced scrutiny for allowing officers accused of misconduct to retire without accountability.

Case Implications

Garrett’s defense contends that Zuley’s documented pattern of coercive interrogation methods supports their motion for a new trial. Human rights advocates and wrongful conviction organizations have expressed interest in the case as a potential example of systemic abuse extending from Chicago’s police force to U.S. military detention centers.

“The connection between what happened in Chicago and what happened in Guantánamo is no coincidence,” an attorney for Garrett said. “It shows a culture of impunity.”

Author’s Summary: The testimony of ex-detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi strengthens the claim that Chicago detective Richard Zuley used torture both domestically and overseas, raising new doubts about past convictions tied to his investigations.

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Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Sun-Times — 2025-11-25

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