Gabar Choli, a Kurdish filmmaker and activist, recently provided a public account of his time in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Choli, who was detained after his asylum application was denied, engaged in a hunger strike to protest his situation. During this period, he reports that he was subjected to force-feeding procedures, often occurring twice daily over the course of eight months.

Choli states that the experience caused him significant physical and psychological distress, describing the process as something that "mentally broke" him. The practice of force-feeding detainees on hunger strikes has long been a subject of intense debate. International human rights organizations frequently characterize the practice as a form of torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. Conversely, immigration detention authorities have historically defended the practice as a necessary medical intervention to preserve the life and health of detainees who refuse food.

Following his time in detention, Choli was deported from the United States and currently resides in Canada. His testimony marks the first time he has spoken in detail about the specific conditions he faced while in ICE custody. While Choli’s account highlights the personal impact of these medical interventions, the U.S. government has not provided a specific response to his individual claims in this instance. The case underscores the ongoing tension between the medical duty to sustain life in detention facilities and the ethical concerns raised by human rights advocates regarding the autonomy of hunger strikers.