Ex-Guantanamo Bay inmates pan Zero Dark Thirty

Movie said to be based on the real-life hunt for Osama bin Laden

The Associated Press

Posted: Jan 10, 2013 2:23 PM ET

Last Updated: Jan 10, 2013 2:21 PM ET

Navy SEALs raid Osama Bin Laden's compound in the dark night in Columbia Pictures' thriller Zero Dark Thirty. Fromer Guantanamo inmates give a thumbs-down. (Jonathan Olley/Columbia Pictures)

Two former Guantanamo detainees are criticizing Zero Dark Thirty, a film purportedly based on the real-life hunt to kill or capture Osama bin Laden.

It suggests that brutal interrogations provided key intelligence, some thing that has generated widespread political controversy.

Iraqi-born Bisher al-Rawi and Libyan-born Omar Deghayes — who was partially blinded after what he said was an American guard's attempt to gouge out his eyes — said the movie legitimizes abuse.

Speaking on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the opening of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, the former detainees described the film as an attempt to rehabilitate those guilty of torture.

Neither former detainee has seen the movie but the torture scenes have been widely discussed.

The film was one of nine best-picture nominees in Thursday's Academy Awards announcements. Director Kathryn Bigelow did not receive a best-director nomination, possibly in response to controversy about its portrayal of torture and links to the CIA.

The film opened in December and will have its wide release on Jan. 11. It has already earned four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture — Drama, Best Director, and Best Actress -— Drama.

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