Alka Pradhan
@alkapradhan.bsky.social
Int'l human rights lawyer at Guantanamo & ICC. Penn Law prof. Chai, cheese, and hotteok connoisseur. I had hot sauce in my bag long before Beyoncé. No DoD opinions here; reposts are not confirmation/denial of classified info. She/Her
Against the backdrop of state terrorism in MN, I’m reading this by my friend Hwang Sokyong, who writes so movingly (and viscerally) about the lasting effects of the Gwangju Uprising. History always repeats itself if given the opportunity.
January 25, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Against the backdrop of state terrorism in MN, I’m reading this by my friend Hwang Sokyong, who writes so movingly (and viscerally) about the lasting effects of the Gwangju Uprising. History always repeats itself if given the opportunity.
Really, the only consolation through the absolute massacre of international law at the moment, is the brigade of friends/colleagues in the field who are stepping up in defense. One such rock star, @brfarley.bsky.social, dropped in this evening to explain the law of war to the fine students of Penn:
January 22, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Really, the only consolation through the absolute massacre of international law at the moment, is the brigade of friends/colleagues in the field who are stepping up in defense. One such rock star, @brfarley.bsky.social, dropped in this evening to explain the law of war to the fine students of Penn:
@marisakabas.bsky.social For anyone who wants the language handy (and willing to opt out even apparently under threat of detention), this is what the CBP website says about the right of US citizens to opt out - I keep it bookmarked on my phone:
January 21, 2026 at 10:23 PM
@marisakabas.bsky.social For anyone who wants the language handy (and willing to opt out even apparently under threat of detention), this is what the CBP website says about the right of US citizens to opt out - I keep it bookmarked on my phone:
Today is the 24th anniversary of the opening of the illegal detention camps at Guantanamo Bay. The establishment/normalization of Gitmo by successive presidents who enjoyed their expanded powers too much led us directly to our present domestic and intl crises. And 15 tortured men still remain there.
January 11, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Today is the 24th anniversary of the opening of the illegal detention camps at Guantanamo Bay. The establishment/normalization of Gitmo by successive presidents who enjoyed their expanded powers too much led us directly to our present domestic and intl crises. And 15 tortured men still remain there.
If this photo is real, it is a straight line from impunity during the Bush and Obama admins for this exact kind of torture and illegal renditions, to the gross crimes we woke up to this morning.
January 3, 2026 at 8:04 PM
If this photo is real, it is a straight line from impunity during the Bush and Obama admins for this exact kind of torture and illegal renditions, to the gross crimes we woke up to this morning.
Happy holidays to everyone except those who helped keep Gitmo open - going on 24 years.
December 24, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Happy holidays to everyone except those who helped keep Gitmo open - going on 24 years.
Flag at half-staff for Dick Cheney at Camp Justice, Guantanamo Bay.
Photo taken after arriving on a flight carrying ICE agents involved in the new illegal migrant detentions, which expanded the Gitmo population for the first time since 2002 - Cheney's very dark legacy.
Photo taken after arriving on a flight carrying ICE agents involved in the new illegal migrant detentions, which expanded the Gitmo population for the first time since 2002 - Cheney's very dark legacy.
November 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Flag at half-staff for Dick Cheney at Camp Justice, Guantanamo Bay.
Photo taken after arriving on a flight carrying ICE agents involved in the new illegal migrant detentions, which expanded the Gitmo population for the first time since 2002 - Cheney's very dark legacy.
Photo taken after arriving on a flight carrying ICE agents involved in the new illegal migrant detentions, which expanded the Gitmo population for the first time since 2002 - Cheney's very dark legacy.
Such an inspiring keynote
October 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Such an inspiring keynote
Happy 4th from Wolfeboro, where patriotic dissent is alive and well. #nokings #noconcentrationcamps #closegitmo
July 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Happy 4th from Wolfeboro, where patriotic dissent is alive and well. #nokings #noconcentrationcamps #closegitmo
I spent a morning with the great writer and activist Hwang Sokyong, and it was soul-lifting. Onwards we go.
June 14, 2025 at 10:27 AM
I spent a morning with the great writer and activist Hwang Sokyong, and it was soul-lifting. Onwards we go.
Pack-out day at Gitmo. Hopefully I boosted the morale of JTF on the “morale bus” with some Lina Makoul.
April 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Pack-out day at Gitmo. Hopefully I boosted the morale of JTF on the “morale bus” with some Lina Makoul.
Reminder: detaining people of color at Guantanamo is not normal or legal or acceptable, whether it started 23 years ago or two months ago, whether it’s DoD or ICE. Horrifying to see these all over Gitmo now.
April 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reminder: detaining people of color at Guantanamo is not normal or legal or acceptable, whether it started 23 years ago or two months ago, whether it’s DoD or ICE. Horrifying to see these all over Gitmo now.
Gitmo-bound, living my best troll life.
April 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Gitmo-bound, living my best troll life.
Here is what Mahmoud Khalil said to the judge who ordered him deported for his speech:
www.npr.org/2025/04/11/n...
www.npr.org/2025/04/11/n...
April 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Here is what Mahmoud Khalil said to the judge who ordered him deported for his speech:
www.npr.org/2025/04/11/n...
www.npr.org/2025/04/11/n...
TFW when you realize you’re traveling with your fave sunglasses and also multiple pairs of reading glasses 😎😭 😭 👵🏽
April 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
TFW when you realize you’re traveling with your fave sunglasses and also multiple pairs of reading glasses 😎😭 😭 👵🏽
Spectacular last show by J-Hope in LA tonight; a little inspo in dark times.
April 7, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Spectacular last show by J-Hope in LA tonight; a little inspo in dark times.
Yoon's impeachment upheld *unanimously* by the Constitutional Court. Sitting here in DC in our own constitutional crisis, watching the South Korean people (who wrestled off bloody dictatorship within living memory) re-affirm democratic principles, gives us some hope.
(from @koreajoongangdaily.com)👇🏾
(from @koreajoongangdaily.com)👇🏾
April 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Yoon's impeachment upheld *unanimously* by the Constitutional Court. Sitting here in DC in our own constitutional crisis, watching the South Korean people (who wrestled off bloody dictatorship within living memory) re-affirm democratic principles, gives us some hope.
(from @koreajoongangdaily.com)👇🏾
(from @koreajoongangdaily.com)👇🏾
March 6, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Friends, does this seem smart?
(A thousand times, no)
(A thousand times, no)
February 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Friends, does this seem smart?
(A thousand times, no)
(A thousand times, no)
We all need breaks to build resolve for action, and Han Kang has perfect timing:
February 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM
We all need breaks to build resolve for action, and Han Kang has perfect timing:
When you’re teaching about security, human rights, law, and accountability in the middle of a democratic crisis, there are few better guest lecturers than the amazing @markfallon.bsky.social 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 @pennlaw.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 2:04 AM
When you’re teaching about security, human rights, law, and accountability in the middle of a democratic crisis, there are few better guest lecturers than the amazing @markfallon.bsky.social 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 @pennlaw.bsky.social
The "worst of the worst" has always been code for non-citizen, non-white men for whom the U.S. wants to strip all legal rights. As horrifying as it is to see new prisoners touch down at Guantanamo, they bring constitutional protections with them to Gitmo and we will enforce them.
February 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The "worst of the worst" has always been code for non-citizen, non-white men for whom the U.S. wants to strip all legal rights. As horrifying as it is to see new prisoners touch down at Guantanamo, they bring constitutional protections with them to Gitmo and we will enforce them.
Moments of catharsis during a tough week, with @sunitav.bsky.social at the first 2025 meeting of @hfhr.bsky.social 🪔
January 31, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Moments of catharsis during a tough week, with @sunitav.bsky.social at the first 2025 meeting of @hfhr.bsky.social 🪔
Gitmo gift shop may have jumped the shark.
1. No "vintage cars" here, other than shoddy DoD junkers.
2. Rainbow row houses? Our team is housed in mostly steel trailers.
3. Havana Cathedral is in...Havana.
4. We're not allowed to go to El Yunque.
5. There is a ferry, that one is correct. 🤦🏾♀️
1. No "vintage cars" here, other than shoddy DoD junkers.
2. Rainbow row houses? Our team is housed in mostly steel trailers.
3. Havana Cathedral is in...Havana.
4. We're not allowed to go to El Yunque.
5. There is a ferry, that one is correct. 🤦🏾♀️
January 20, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Gitmo gift shop may have jumped the shark.
1. No "vintage cars" here, other than shoddy DoD junkers.
2. Rainbow row houses? Our team is housed in mostly steel trailers.
3. Havana Cathedral is in...Havana.
4. We're not allowed to go to El Yunque.
5. There is a ferry, that one is correct. 🤦🏾♀️
1. No "vintage cars" here, other than shoddy DoD junkers.
2. Rainbow row houses? Our team is housed in mostly steel trailers.
3. Havana Cathedral is in...Havana.
4. We're not allowed to go to El Yunque.
5. There is a ferry, that one is correct. 🤦🏾♀️