City Lights and Humanitas Media present
Joshua Colangelo-Bryan in conversation with Philip Kearney
discussing
Through The Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guatanamo Bay
By Joshua Colangelo-Bryan
Published by Humanitas Media
In 2004, attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan arrived at Guantanamo Bay to meet Jaber Mohammed, one of six Bahraini detainees his firm had agreed to represent. Colangelo-Bryan had heard these men were “among the most dangerous, best-trained, vicious killers on the face of the earth,” as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld put it. Colangelo-Bryan didn’t buy the rhetoric, but did find himself wondering if he was about to meet a killer.
Far from being threatening, though, Mohammed welcomed Colangelo-Bryan, even as his ankle was shackled to the floor. Why was Mohammed there? Was he guilty of a crime? These were among the questions Colangelo-Bryan had to answer. Surprisingly, the two spoke for hours about their lives. Mohammed also detailed the inhumane conditions at the prison, including abuse by guards and solitary confinement.
A friendship grew over time, as Colangelo-Bryan worked to bring justice to Mohammed. The Bush administration claimed any “enemy combatant” could be held in Guantanamo forever without a trial, and it became clear that litigation was unlikely to free the Bahrainis. And so, as Mohammed lost hope, Colangelo-Bryan devised a plan to leverage the media and pressure the Bahraini government to negotiate for the release of its citizens. Colangelo-Bryan’s long fight for the Bahrainis was ultimately successful, and, in 2007, after several suicide attempts, Mohammed was freed.
Through the Gates of Hell is a powerful account of an unlikely friendship and what it takes to fight for human rights in the post–9/11 era.
Joshua Colangelo-Bryan is Special Counsel at Human Rights First, where he spearheads impact litigation and advocacy efforts to uphold democratic principles and support human rights defenders globally. Beyond representing Guantanamo detainees, he has sued Turkey for assaulting peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C., the Trump administration for attempting to deport a college student based on her pro-test 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. In the early 2000s, Josh served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, working on the prosecution of war crimes cases. He has provided commentary for national media, authored op-eds in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian, and spoken before Congress and at colleges, law schools, churches, and synagogues regarding Guantanamo and international law.
Philip Kearney, JD, is a Shareholder at Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney in San Francisco and a former Assistant District Attorney, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and United Nations International War Crimes Prosecutor. He has personally tried over seventy-five domestic jury trials covering crimes from murder to financial fraud and has led five international trials. As a federal prosecutor, he specialized in national security, terrorism, money laundering, and cybercrime, serving as Digital Currency Coordinator and chairing a multi-agency cyber task force. He has also trained law enforcement and judicial personnel around the world and through USAID-supported programs.
Humanitas Media was born from a belief in storytelling as a force for human rights. They amplify personal narratives that expose injustice, affirm dignity, and empower survivors to reclaim their voices. By confronting systems of oppression and lifting marginalized perspectives, their mission is to connect powerful human stories with a global audience. Humantias committed to making these narratives accessible and emotionally resonant, building empathy and deepening awareness. Through these deeply human stories, Humanitas Media inspires a global community embracing understanding and solidarity.
This event made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation