Jaralla al-Marri
Jaralla Salih Muhammad Khala al-Marri | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1973 Doha, Qatar |
| Occupation | Former detainee |
| Known for | Detention at Guantanamo Bay |
Jaralla Salih Muhammad Khala al-Marri is a national of Qatar who was previously held captive at the United States' Guantanamo Bay detention camp located in Cuba for a period of six and a half years. He was returned to Qatar on 27 July 2008. According to records from the Department of Defense, his date of birth is 12 August 1973, and he was born in Doha, Qatar.
Early life
Al Marri pursued studies in English at Texas A&M University between 1993 and 1994. After completing his studies, he went back to Qatar, married in 1995, and is a father to three children.
Recruitment
Per the Department of Defense’s Detainee Assessment, Al Marri traveled to Mecca in 2001, where he encountered Abu Walid al-Makki. Through al-Makki, he was introduced to Muhammad al-Saudi al-Harabi, who served as his contact for engaging in jihad activities in Afghanistan. To avoid alarming his family about his true plans, he claimed he was traveling to Pakistan to commit to memorizing the Quran. He arrived in Pakistan on September 6, 2001, subsequently reached out to al-Harabi, who then linked him with al-Zubail. Al-Zubail transported him to Kandahar, Afghanistan. There, he underwent training at the al-Faruq camp before being detained on December 6, 2001, while attempting to cross back into Pakistan.
Terrorist support and activities
Following the September 11 attacks, Al Marri was apprehended at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Authorities suspected him of trying to transfer $10,000 designated as "al-Qaeda operational funds" to his brother, Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, under instructions from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the principal planner behind the attacks. After his return to Qatar, Al Marri has allegedly supported the Qatari fundraising initiative known as Madid Ahl al-Sham, which has been endorsed by the Al-Nusra Front as an entity aiding al-Qaeda. This fundraising effort is believed to have been managed by Sa'd bin Sa'd Muhammad Shariyan Al Ka'bi and Abd al-Latif Bin Abdullah Salih Muhammad al-Kawari, both individuals designated by the U.S. Treasury as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
Jail conditions
Al Marri was assigned detainee number 334 during his incarceration at Guantanamo.
Al-Marri's position
In 2005, Al-Marri took part in hunger strikes at Guantanamo protesting against facility conditions and religious mistreatment. Due to complications from the strike and an existing heart condition, he required hospitalization where he was placed on intravenous fluids. During this time, he reported inappropriate behavior by a government-employed nurse attempting to forcefully end his hunger strike. Throughout more than sixteen months in solitary confinement, he faced restricted recreational opportunities, continuous illumination within his cell, insufficient bedding and clothing provisions, all contributing to significant decline in both his physical and psychological well-being.
By December 2005, Al-Marri had received only two lawyer visits.
Detention of Al-Marri's brother
Al-Marri’s brother, Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, who formerly attended graduate studies at Bradley University, was detained on suspicion of being an al-Qaeda operative allegedly involved in planning attacks within the United States. He faced charges including credit card fraud and providing false statements to the FBI but denies these accusations. He remained confined at a naval prison facility in South Carolina until his release and subsequent return to Qatar on January 18, 2015.
Repatriation and detention by British authorities
On July 28, 2008, Al-Marri was sent back to Qatar under terms that limited his ability to travel outside the country. Qatar committed to informing the US if he tried to leave, but this notification did not occur when he traveled internationally on two occasions. Subsequently, he was apprehended in the United Kingdom on charges of visa fraud.
In February 2009, Al-Marri was held at Heathrow Airport for allegedly failing to disclose his Guantanamo Bay detention on his visa application, although he claimed that British officials who assisted him were aware of his background. Before his detention, he had been conducting a speaking tour across the UK alongside Moazzam Begg.
The US Ambassador to Qatar linked Qatar’s inability to prevent Al-Marri’s travel to decisions made by its attorney general. The United States has criticized Qatar for being an "inconsistent" ally in counterterrorism initiatives.
In 2014, Moazzam Begg was arrested in the UK on accusations related to financing and training militants in Syria but has since been released.