The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Nabil Said Hadjarab and Mutia Sadiq Ahmad Sayyab from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Algeria.
As directed by the President's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these men were approved for transfer by consensus of the six departments and agencies comprising the task force. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer these individuals.
The United States is grateful to the Government of Algeria for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the Government of Algeria to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.
Today, 164 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay. DoD News Release
Reasons for Continued Detention: Detainee is assessed to be a member of al-Qaida's GJSN with direct associations to the GIA. Detainee attended training in Afghanistan and possibly received explosives training. Detainee resided in guesthouses operated by al-Qaida facilitator Abu Jaffar al-Jazaieri. Detainee occupied positions in Tora Bora and is assessed to have participated in hostilities against US and coalition forces. Detainee is a member of the GJSN.
Jan 22, 2007 Recommendation: recommends this detainee for Transfer Out of
Control (TRO). previously assessed detainee as Continued Detention (CD) with
Transfer Language on 23 February 2006.
Nabil Hadjarab
Reasons for Continued Detention: Detainee is assessed to be a probable member of al-Qaida's GJSN. It is assessed detainee probably attended IED training under the supervision of a GICM member at the House of Algerians Guesthouse in Jalalabad run by a senior Algerian GIA member. Detainee possibly traveled with Abu Jafar al-Jazairi's group to the Tora Bora Mountains of Afghanistan in response to UBL's request to prepare defenses in case of US retaliatory attacks. A GJSN member probably recruited detainee to travel from France to Afghanistan, via the United Kingdom and Pakistan on a false Belgian passport, a common travel route for GJSN recruits.
Jan 9, 2007 Recommendation: recommends this detainee for Transfer Out of
Control (TRO). previously assessed detainee as Continued Detention Under
Control (CD) with Transfer Language on 15 January 2006.
Mutij Sadiz Ahmad Sayab
I
believe the various acronyms above have the following meanings:
GJSN - Global Jihad Support Network
GIA - Armed Islamic Group
GICM - Moroccan Islamic Fighting Group
Is this the right thing to do? Overdue? What is likely to happen to them in Algeria?
Mon Sep 09, 2013 at 2:58 AM PT:
UPDATE Sept 9, 2013Both men were cleared for release from Guantanamo years ago and joined hunger strikes to protest their continuing detention. Writer John Grisham recently called attention to Hadjarab's case in a New York Times article.
Hadjarab's French lawyer Joseph Breham, said he is working on getting him resettled in France, where his whole family lives.
"We are overjoyed he has been cleared (for parole) and now we are going to work to return him to France," he told The Associated Press, adding that his client would have to check in with authorities every month.
Algeria puts ex-Gitmo prisoners on parole