Adel Noori

Adel Noori
Born	(1979-11-12) November 12, 1979 Xinjiang, China
Occupation(s)	Refugee, former detainee
Known for	Wrongful incarceration at Guantanamo Bay detention camps; release and asylum in Palau; disappearance and relocation to Turkey

Adel Noori is a Uyghur refugee who endured wrongful incarceration for more than seven years at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps located in Cuba. His assigned Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 584. According to analysts from Joint Task Force Guantanamo, he was born on November 12, 1979, in Xinjiang, China.

Despite early indications of their innocence, Noori was among 22 Uyghurs detained at Guantanamo. In 2008, he prevailed in his habeas corpus petition when Judge Ricardo Urbina declared his detention unlawful and mandated his release within the United States.

Combatant Status Review

Noori participated in the tribunal hearings, representing approximately 60% of detainees who chose to engage in the process. For each hearing, a Summary of Evidence memorandum was compiled.

The memo presented allegations against Noori as follows:

Transcript

Noori opted to engage in his Combatant Status Review Tribunal. On March 3, 2006, pursuant to a court order issued by Jed Rakoff, the United States Department of Defense released an abridged transcript of his tribunal proceedings.

Mohammon v. Bush, Civil Action No. 05-2386

Adel Noori was listed as a petitioner in Mohammon v. Bush, Civil Action No. 05-2386.

In September 2007, the Department of Justice disclosed Combatant Status Review Tribunal files for 179 detainees but withheld those related to Adel Noori.

On July 18, 2008, George M. Clarke III notified the US District Court that:

Administrative Review Board

Detainees designated as "enemy combatants" by the Combatant Status Review Tribunal were subject to annual Administrative Review Board hearings aimed at evaluating the risk they might pose if released or transferred and deciding whether continued detention remained necessary.

Summary of Evidence memo

A Summary of Evidence memorandum for Adel Noori’s Administrative Review Board hearing was prepared on July 1, 2005. It detailed factors both supporting and opposing his ongoing detention.

Key factors supporting continued detention

Key factors supporting release or transfer

Board recommendations

In September 2007, the Department of Defense published two extensively redacted memos from his Board addressed to Gordon R. England, the Designated Civilian Official. The Board’s recommendation was unanimous though heavily redacted. On October 22, 2005, England approved the transfer.

2005 through 2008

On June 12, 2008, the United States Supreme Court reinstated Guantanamo detainees' right to access the U.S. civilian judicial system in Boumediene v. Bush, reopening their habeas corpus challenges. Separately, Huzaifa Parhat's DTA appeal determined that his Combatant Status Review Tribunal erred due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The Department of Justice retained the option to appeal with new proof. The Uyghur detainees’ habeas petitions were prioritized for review. By September 2008, shortly before DOJ was expected to substantiate their detention in court, it conceded that no evidence justified holding them after more than six years of extrajudicial confinement.

Temporary Refuge in Palau

In June 2009, the government of Palau extended temporary asylum to a group of Uyghurs. A delegation conducted interviews with several detainees, although some chose not to participate. Ultimately, Palau granted asylum to twelve out of thirteen remaining Uyghurs, excluding one individual suffering from a severe mental illness attributed to detention conditions.

On October 31, 2009, six Uyghurs—Adel Noori, Ahmad Tourson, Abdul Ghappar Abdul Rahman, Edham Mamet, Anwar Hassan, and Dawut Abdurehim—were released and relocated to Palau.

Subsequently, Noori was employed as a security guard at Palau Community College. In early 2013, authorities in Palau reported that Noori had disappeared without possessing a passport, which initiated an official inquiry.

Return to Turkey

On February 14, 2013, the Associated Press revealed that Noori had been "missing since late last year" from Palau. Since the Uyghurs were ineligible for citizenship in Palau, Noori lacked valid travel documentation. The local publication Tia Belau speculated that he might have attempted to travel to Turkey to reunite with his wife and child.

According to Tia Belau, Noori had been absent from his workplace for two months and was reported to have traveled through Japan; however, Japanese authorities were unable to confirm or refute this claim.

On February 20, 2013, Carol Rosenberg of McClatchy News Services verified that US officials were aware Noori had joined his family in Turkey, citing anonymous sources. Joshua Keating from Foreign Policy magazine emphasized the importance of Noori's move given his statelessness and lack of official travel papers.

By June 29, 2015, Nathan Vanderklippe from The Globe and Mail disclosed that all the Uyghurs had quietly departed Palau. This exit followed an agreement between the US and Palau that involved undisclosed payments, reportedly including $93,333 per individual to cover living costs. Former President Johnson Toribiong became embroiled in controversy after allegedly using some of these funds to house the Uyghurs in properties owned by his relatives.

Vanderklippe described the challenges faced by the men in integrating into Palauan society. Cultural barriers limited their job opportunities; attempts to revive traditional leather craftsmanship were unsuccessful. Ultimately, all six found employment as night security guards—a position requiring minimal social interaction with locals.

Tragically, one man’s toddler born in Palau died after an accidental fall. The men's departures were discreetly arranged with US officials, leaving Palau via commercial flights either alone or in pairs. The destinations were not disclosed by Palauan authorities.