Airat Vakhitov
Aiat Nasimovich Vahitov | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 27, 1977 Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia |
| Occupation | Imam |
| Known for | Former detainee at Guantanamo Bay detention camp; human rights activism; alleged torture survivor |
Aiat Nasimovich Vahitov, whose name is alternatively rendered as Ayrat Wakhitov or Vahidov (), is a Russian national of Tatar descent who underwent extrajudicial detention at the United States' Guantanamo Bay detention camp, located in Cuba.[1][2] He was among seven Russian detainees repatriated in February 2004. Vakhitov is proficient in Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Urdu, and Russian, and possesses a basic command of English.[3]
On June 28, 2005, Vakhitov made a public declaration of his intention to initiate legal proceedings against the United States for alleged torture endured during his detention at Guantanamo. Geydar Dzhemal, head of the Islamic Committee of Russia, reported providing shelter to Vakhitov and fellow former detainee Rustam Akhmyarov following intimidating encounters with security forces.[4] Security personnel cautioned Vakhitov to restrict his statements to torture at Guantanamo and avoid discussing abuses in Russia. On August 29, 2005, both men were taken from Dzhemal’s residence by authorities without presenting identification; Dzhemal characterized this as a kidnapping aimed at silencing their human rights activism.
Their detention ended with their release on September 2, 2005.[5]
The United States Department of Defense issued its inaugural official roster of Guantanamo detainees on May 15, 2006.[6] While Vakhitov’s name was absent, the list included an individual named Aiat Nasimovich Vahitov, born March 27, 1977, in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia.
Following investigations into possible breaches of law, Russian officials released the detainees. In 2005, Vakhitov faced re-arrest within Russia on allegations related to orchestrating terrorist activities in Tatarstan; however, he was freed after two months and subsequently moved to the Middle East. In 2011, he disseminated a video entitled "39 ways of helping the jihad and taking part in it." Later, in June 2016, Turkish authorities detained him concerning involvement in the Atatürk Airport attack.[7]
Airat Vakhitov and other former Taliban prisoners
Among nine ex-Taliban detainees identified by the Associated Press as transferred from Taliban custody to American control was Airat Vakhitov. The Taliban had accused him of espionage on behalf of Russia and incarcerated him for close to three years. While held at Kandahar Airfield, he informed Captain Danner that conditions under Taliban imprisonment were comparatively more humane, including access to a radio, fresh fruit provisions, and adequate sanitation facilities.
McClatchy interview
On June 15, 2008, the McClatchy News Service released interviews with 66 former detainees from Guantanamo, featuring Airat Vakhitov, who participated via telephone. He described persistent psychological difficulties and voiced fears that a face-to-face meeting with interviewers might result in repercussions from Russian security agencies.
Vakhitov, an imam originating from Tatarstan, was detained amid a Russian crackdown targeting Chechens. Following a brief period of freedom, he escaped Russia after discovering he was being pursued by security operatives. He alleged that he was forcibly abducted by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and taken against his will to Afghanistan.
Formerly confidential Joint Task Force Guantanamo evaluation
On April 25, 2011, the whistleblowing group WikiLeaks disclosed classified evaluations prepared by analysts from the Joint Task Force Guantanamo. Among these was a five-page document dated June 3, 2005, signed by camp commander Brigadier General Jay W. Hood, which recommended transferring the detainee to the custody of another nation.
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedJurist2005-08-31 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedHrw2007-03 - ↑ Begg, Moazzam. "Enemy Combatant", 2006. pp. 120
- ↑ Russian Talibs Found Through London Archived 2016-08-17 at the Wayback Machine, Kommersnt, August 29, 2005
- ↑ Template:Usurped. Mosnews, September 2, 2005
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDoDList2 - ↑ "Tatarstan-born Airat Vakhitov detained in Turkey over terror act in Istanbul airport". Archived from the original on 2016-08-29.