The Blindfold's Eyes: My Journey from Torture to Truth (2004)
The Blindfold's Eyes: My Journey from Torture to Truth (2004)
by Dianna Ortiz
Reviewed by Emma Pitman
"The Blindfold's Eyes: My Journey from Torture to Truth" is an autobiographical account by Sister Dianna Ortiz, a Roman Catholic nun who endured abduction and torture in Guatemala in 1989. Her story details her journey from the initial shock of her capture, through excruciating physical and psychological abuse to her relentless quest for justice and healing. Ortiz's narrative is a powerful testament to human resilience, the pursuit of truth, and the fight for human rights.
Sister Dianna traveled to Guatemala in 1987 to serve the indigenous population, focusing on education and social justice. Driven by compassion and a commitment to helping marginalized communities, she worked in a country plagued by civil war and political violence. At the time, Guatemala was under a brutal military dictatorship that violently suppressed dissent, targeting anyone perceived as opposing the regime. Her advocacy for social justice and her work with a Mayan community made her a target for Guatemalan security forces who saw Mayan peasants as allies of leftist rebels.
On November 2, 1989, while attending a retreat in Antigua, Sister Dianna was abducted by Guatemalan security forces and taken to a clandestine detention center. There, she endured horrific acts of torture, including physical beatings, sexual assault, and psychological torment. Her captors used electric shocks, burned her with cigarettes, and repeatedly raped her. They attempted to erase her sense of identity and dignity, but despite the relentless abuse, she held on to her faith and hope. She states in the book, "Torture is not just physical pain; it is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a human being's identity and soul."
Recovering from her ordeal after returning to the United States was a long and difficult process. Sister Dianna faced severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), flashbacks, and a deep sense of betrayal. Her recovery involved extensive medical and psychological treatment and solidarity with other torture survivors at the the Marjorie Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture in Chicago.
Sister Dianna was determined to seek justice for all victims of torture, transforming her suffering into a source of strength and a driving force for advocacy. She began speaking out about her experiences, leading to broader investigations into human rights abuses in Guatemala and the role of the United States. This campaign culminated in co-founding the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC), dedicated to supporting torture survivors and working towards the global abolition of torture. Through TASSC, Sister Dianna provided a platform for survivors to share their stories, receive support, and advocate for justice.
Reading "The Blindfold's Eyes," interning at TASSC, and interacting with survivors has profoundly changed my perspective on the impact of torture and the incredible resilience of survivors. During TASSC’s June Survivors Week, I had the opportunity to lead a delegation of torture survivors advocating on Capitol Hill. I listened to Ethiopian torture survivors share their harrowing stories and felt a profound sadness and anger, along with deep horror at the capacity of human beings to inflict such atrocities on others. Their stories strengthened my resolve to continue this important work.
The strength and courage displayed by survivors as they navigate their healing journeys are awe-inspiring. Sister Dianna may not be here with us today. But if she were, I know she would be proud of the work being done at TASSC. As long as there are people who believe in and support her mission, her spirit lives on and resides in each of us committed to her goal.
** Emma Pitman was an Advocacy Intern at TASSC in Summer 2024. She is a junior at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a double major in Communications Studies and Philosophy, Politics and the Public.