Abdullah Kamel Abdullah Kamel Al Kandari
Abdullah Kamel Al Kandari | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 17, 1973 Kuwait |
| Occupation | Former detainee at Guantanamo Bay detention facility |
| Known for | Detention without formal charges at Guantanamo Bay |
Abdullah Kamel Abdullah Kamel Al Kandari (born 17 September 1973) is a citizen of Kuwait who was detained without formal charges at the United States' Guantanamo Bay detention facility located in Cuba.
Press coverage
On 12 July 2006, Mother Jones released parts of transcripts from Guantanamo detainees, highlighting that more than twelve detainees were noted for possessing inexpensive digital watches, particularly the Casio F-91W. This model was described as "the notorious Casio watch reportedly used by Al Qaeda operatives for triggering explosives." Al Kandari and three others expressed disbelief at this claim:
When I was told that Casio watches were linked to Al Qaeda and used for bombs, I was taken aback... Had I known this, I would have discarded mine. I'm not foolish. There are four chaplains here at Guantanamo; all of them wear this watch.
Kristine A. Huskey, one of Al Kandari’s attorneys, informed Newsday that:
...the arguments favoring release did not include numerous sworn statements from family members and teammates affirming that the detainee never exhibited any extremist or anti-American conduct.
Consultations with legal counsel
According to a report by Marie Claire magazine, Kristine A. Huskey served as legal counsel for Abdullah Kamel. She expressed surprise that detainees like Al Kandari preferred meals from Guantanamo’s fast food options rather than traditional Arabic dishes brought by their lawyers. Among his favorites was cheese pizza from the base's Pizza Hut.
Al Odah v. United States
Abdullah Kamel Al Kandari was one of eleven detainees referenced in the July 2008 "Petitioners' Status Report" submitted by David J. Cynamon in the case of Al Odah v. United States. This filing represented the four remaining Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo and consolidated seven other prisoners’ cases, challenging the fact that none had been authorized for release despite factual returns being completed with some redactions.
On June 12, 2008, the Supreme Court invalidated the Military Commissions Act, thereby affirming detainees’ rights to seek relief through civilian judicial review.
Return to Kuwait
On September 10, 2006, The Washington Post announced that Al Kandari was expected to be repatriated to Kuwait soon. The Emir of Kuwait personally intervened to secure his release along with that of fellow detainee Omar Rajab Amin.
Affirmation of acquittal
The Miami Herald reported on May 29, 2007, that a Kuwaiti appellate court confirmed the acquittals of both Al Kandari and Omar Rajab Amin.
Interview conducted by McClatchy
On June 15, 2008, McClatchy News Service published interviews with 66 former Guantanamo inmates, including Abdullah Kamel al Kandari. His attorney, Thomas Wilner, examined classified materials at a secure location after receiving appropriate security clearance. Wilner found no supporting evidence for the supplementary accusations listed in the Summary of Evidence documents used during Administrative Review Board proceedings.