Haroon al-Afghani
Asadullah Haroon Gul | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981 Sherzad district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan |
| Other names | Haroon al-Afghani |
| Occupation | Politician (Afghan) |
| Known for | Former detainee at Guantanamo Bay detention camp |
Asadullah Haroon Gul (born 1981), better known as Haroon al-Afghani ("the Afghani"), is an Afghan national who was subjected to extrajudicial detention at the United States’ Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.[1]
He arrived at Guantanamo on June 22, 2007, and remained in custody there for 15 years.[2][3] His transfer on that date was publicly confirmed by the U.S. Department of Defense.[3][4][5] Before 2016, details about his personal history were scarce. Having been detained without formal charges for over eight years, Al Jazeera referred to him as a "forever prisoner," until Reprieve US obtained legal counsel on his behalf.[6]
The Department of Defense alleged that he functioned as an Al-Qaeda courier and a senior commander within Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HiG). They claimed he led multiple HiG terrorist cells, orchestrated improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Nangarhar province, and maintained communication with high-ranking Al-Qaeda and HiG figures. His detention was justified by the potential intelligence value he might provide to thwart future threats.[5]
Nonetheless, his family members refuted these allegations, describing them as unfounded.[7] Legal representatives from Reprieve US, supported by an investigative report from Al Jazeera, contend that he has been mistakenly identified and assert that he "has never been affiliated with the Taliban or al Qaeda, has not harmed or attempted to harm American forces or assets, nor endorsed violent ideologies."[6]
Jeffrey Kaye reported that Haroon harbored concerns about being perceived as a U.S. informant by fellow detainees.[8]
Joint Review Task Force
On January 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed three Executive orders targeting the management of Guantanamo detainees. He introduced a revamped review procedure involving representatives from six government departments, replacing the prior Department of Defense-exclusive OARDEC process. A year later, the Joint Review Task Force categorized some detainees as too dangerous to release despite insufficient evidence to bring formal charges.
Following a FOIA request, the task force’s findings were made public on April 9, 2013. Among the 71 detainees listed was Haroon al-Afghani, who was deemed too innocent to prosecute yet too risky to free. President Obama announced that such individuals would be subject to continuous assessment by a Periodic Review Board.
Periodic Review Board
The initial review session took place on November 20, 2013. Haroon received approval for transfer on October 7, 2021.
Al Jazeera profile
Al Jazeera featured al-Afghani in a January 20, 2016 profile, characterizing him as someone about whom "almost nothing certain is known." The outlet described him as a "forever prisoner"—classified by the 2009 Guantanamo Review Task Force as too dangerous for release despite never facing charges.
He is believed to have been born circa 1981 in Sherzad district within Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. A family member recalled him as "just a normal young boy." During Taliban rule, he was a student and pursued economics studies at Hayatabad Science University in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Profile in Afghanistan
The human rights organization Reprieve has worked to elevate Haroon’s visibility within Afghanistan, aiming to build public momentum that could contribute to securing his freedom. Clive Stafford Smith, the group's founder, highlighted that backing from Afghan citizens might play a significant role in shaping the ongoing peace negotiations with the Taliban. He also pointed out that Haroon had not been visited by any Afghan government representatives during his detention.
Release
Haroon was freed on June 24, 2022.
Life post-release
Following his release, Haroon has publicly addressed the conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, drawing comparisons to his own experiences at Guantanamo Bay.
External links
- Myopic Pentagon keeps filling Guantánamo Andy Worthington
- Who Are the Remaining Prisoners in Guantánamo? Part Eight: Captured in Afghanistan (2002-07) Andy Worthington
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