An inside look at life in Guantánamo

The detention center at Guantánamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba once held about 770 detainees. President George W. Bush transferred more than 500 and, so far, President Barack Obama has transferred 162 prisoners to other countries. Obama issued an executive order his second day in office in 2008 to close the controversial prison that houses foreign fighters suspected of links to the Taliban or the al-Qaida terrorist organization. His efforts have been blocked by Congress and 60 detainees remain.

Getty photographer John Moore was part of a small group of journalists on a recent media tour of the prison, known as Gitmo, in October 2016. Photos must go through what is known as an OpSec review by public affairs officers. Many are deleted for reasons that include showing faces or anything that authorities believe compromise security.

Here, prisoners kneel during evening prayers in Camp 6, where most detainees are currently held, on October 22, 2016. Moore photographed through dark one-way glass.

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The largest single day transfer of detainees during the Obama administration occurred on August 15, 2016, when 15 prisoners were sent to the United Arab Emirates.

The most recent detainee, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, was released on October 16, 2016 and returned to his home country, Mauritania. He had been detained for nearly 14 years.

A television plays a program from Mecca, Saudi Arabia in Gitmo on October 22, 2016. The military is very careful about what is shown on tv. Programming tends to favor Islamic offerings.

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Permitted items for prisoners sit out on display in Camp 5 during a media tour of Gitmo on October 22, 2016. This camp was only emptied of detainees in the last two months. Most have been transferred to adjacent Camp 6.

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A U.S. Naval officer stands near a guard tower at the entrance to Camps 5 and 6, where most of the remaining detainees are held, on October 22, 2016. The guard tower is an imposing structure and has a wide view of the surrounding area.

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A prisoner walks up the stairs on October 22, 2016.

Detainees in Camp 6 are considered either very or reasonably compliant, according to Moore. They are allowed to move freely in common areas and go in and out of their cells. More non-compliant detainees are housed in areas prohibited for media to visit.

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A U.S. Navy doctor displays a restraint chair in the detainee clinic in Gitmo on October 22, 2016. The chair is used to force-feed prisoners who refuse to eat.

Moore was told by the medical officer that at any given time there is usually one prisoner on a hunger strike, but they normally submit without much resistance to the use of feeding tubes.

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Feeding tubes sit on display in the detainee clinic on October 22, 2016.

Three flavors of liquid nutrients are given through the feeding tubes.

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These Harry Potter books are available in numerous languages, but the ones in Arabic are the most popular.

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A prisoner helps another with his hair as they prepare for evening prayers on October 22, 2016.

Detainees pray five times a day, as is customary in Islam. Most of them have been incarcerated up to 15 years. Their world is very small so this aspect of ritual and structure is very important, explained Moore.

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A monitor, shielded by protective plexiglass, is an important link between detainees and lawyers or family members abroad. All the interactions are highly supervised by cameras, although the military says that it does not listen in to prisoners’ sessions with attorneys, siting legal privilege of confidentiality.

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Grass grows around razor wire at Camp X-Ray, closed in 2002, on October 21, 2016.

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A medic stands in the detainee pharmacy in Gitmo on October 22, 2016.

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Prisoners’ artwork hangs on display in the library at the detention center on October 22, 2016.

Most detainees have been at Gitmo for so long that many have become very good artists over time. With U.S. forces rotating every year, detainees have had different art instructors to learn different styles of painting.

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This display at the library gives very specific instructions as to how many books, DVD’s and computer games can be given to detainees depending on their degree of compliance--highly compliant, compliant and discipline. Library materials are essentially a reward for good behavior.

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A speed limit sign slows drivers next to Camp Justice, where military tribunals are held for those accused of terrorism, on October 21, 2016 .

Moore said he took the photo because the speed limit was an apt metaphor for the slow pace of justice at the tribunals.

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Displays left by previous military units fill the “boneyard” of a prison guard camp at the U.S. detention center at Guantánamo Bay on October 22, 2016.

Some military units take a lot of pride in designing and building these exhibits, which they leave behind when their deployment is finished.

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Sailors attend the U.S. Navy Ball held at the Naval Station on October 22, 2016.

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The northeast gate of the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo is shown as the only entrance into the rest of Cuba on October 23, 2016.

Although relations between the United States government and Cuba have thawed, that wasn’t always the case. Back in the 60’s tens of thousands of U.S. Marines fortified the fence and there was a very real threat of military confrontation between them and Fidel Castro’s Cuban troops.

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Nearly half of the remaining detainees have been cleared for transfer. The GOP-led Congress has tried to slow or stop detainees from being transferred out and has banned any from being moved to U.S. prisons.

A mirror reflection at sunset shows the U.S. Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba on October 21, 2016.

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An artificial Christmas tree stands over Gitmo, a full two months before Christmas, on October 22, 2016.