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Juma al-Dossary

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Juma al-Dossary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 7 August 2025
Jumah Mohammed Abdul Latif Al Dossari
Born
Bahrain
OccupationFormer detainee
Known forDetention at Guantanamo Bay without charge; participation in armed conflicts in Bosnia and Chechnya; hunger strikes and suicide attempts during detention

Jumah Mohammed Abdul Latif Al Dossari () is a Bahraini national who was detained for five years at Camp Delta, a section of the US Naval facility at Guantanamo Bay. During his incarceration, he endured years in solitary confinement and was ultimately released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 without facing any formal charges. In the 1990s, he participated in armed conflicts in Bosnia and Chechnya.

Background

In July 2005, Al-Dossari communicated with his attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan regarding the initial summer hunger strike, which concluded on July 28 after the camp’s guard commander, Michael Bumgarner, assured detainees of certain concessions.

Following their discussion, Colangelo-Bryan conveyed from Bahrain that Al-Dossari expressed:

  • detainees’ readiness to risk death to highlight their complaints,
  • protests centered on detention without fair trial procedures,
  • disruptions to religious observances, including prison guards interrupting the call to prayer,
  • substandard food quality, such as spoiled meals and discolored tap water,
  • an overwhelmed medical facility where seriously ill detainees were confined within interrogation rooms.

Colangelo-Bryan believed that Al-Dossari took part in a subsequent hunger strike beginning around August 8, 2005.

Al-Dossari’s story was featured in the 2006 Peabody Award-winning Chicago Public Radio series This American Life, which shed light on the experiences of Guantanamo detainees.

Letters from Al-Dossari and his father

On September 5, 2005, the Gulf Daily News summarized a June 10, 2005 letter from Al-Dossari protesting his innocence and detailing mistreatment such as:

  • cigarettes being stubbed out on his body,
  • forced walking over barbed wire,
  • being urinated upon by US military personnel.

On September 17, 2005, the same publication reported a letter from Al-Dossari’s father, who was battling throat cancer and implored to see his son before passing away.

Reports from Released British Detainees

British former detainees Tarek Dergoul and Shafiq Rasul, freed in 2004, indicated their cells were located near Al-Dossari's. According to Human Rights Watch, Rasul described witnessing the beating of Bahraini prisoner Jummah Al-Dousari, who suffered from mental illness and frequently exhibited disruptive behavior. An Initial Reaction Force (IRF) team intervened after Al-Dousari impersonated a female soldier.

The Newstandard reported:

Suicide Attempts

On October 20, 2005, the Gulf Daily News highlighted concerns about Al-Dossari’s declining mental health based on notes from attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan. Key observations included:

  • Documented previous suicide attempts by Al-Dossari.
  • His fear of losing mental stability.
  • Constant illumination in his cell disrupting rest.
  • Distrust toward camp medical staff despite acknowledging the need for psychological care.
  • Experiencing seizures.
  • Claims that medical treatment was denied.
  • Nightmares causing him to awaken screaming.

A Washington Post article dated November 1, 2005, described an October 15 suicide attempt during a lawyer visit. Colangelo-Bryan found Al-Dossari unconscious, hanging by a noose with a severe arm injury. U.S. officials confirmed that 22 detainees attempted suicide 36 times but refrained from providing case details.

Following this incident, Al-Dossari’s legal representatives filed for a temporary restraining order requesting:

  • Access to reading materials beyond the Qu'ran.
  • Lights turned off at night to improve sleep quality.
  • Biweekly phone calls with family and attorneys.
  • Increased opportunities for exercise.
  • Permission to receive correspondence from relatives.

They also sought an independent psychiatric evaluation of Al-Dossari’s condition and criticized U.S. authorities for withholding health updates as "unnecessary cruelty."

Al-Dossari reportedly made another suicide attempt on November 13, 2005, by tearing out stitches—his ninth known effort according to the Kansas City Star. Colonel Michael Bumgarner attributed Al-Dossari’s despair partly to restrictions on most exercise privileges; interrogators occasionally rewarded him with takeout meals and movie screenings such as Gladiator and Troy.

On May 11, 2006, the Gulf Daily News reported that Colangelo-Bryan stated Al-Dossari had attempted to cut his throat in March.

Alleged Connections to the "Lackawanna Six"

An article dated November 7, 2005, referenced statements from FBI Buffalo Special Agent Peter J. Ahearn concerning possible links between Al Dossary and the group known as the Lackawanna Six. This group consisted of six Yemeni-American men from Lackawanna, near Buffalo, who clandestinely traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan in early 2001 to undergo jihadist training. According to Ahearn, two individuals from this group reported that Al Dossary had delivered a "fiery speech" at the Guidance Mosque in Lackawanna. The FBI was investigating whether Al Dossary played any role in financing their travel arrangements.

In addition, the Buffalo News cited Al Dossary’s statements during his Combatant Status Review Tribunal, where he acknowledged visiting Buffalo and delivering a passionate speech but denied encouraging others to join al Qaeda or having any connections to terrorist activities.

Response from the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain Regarding Abuse Claims

On November 9, 2005, the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain issued a formal response rejecting allegations that Al Dossary had been mistreated or placed in solitary confinement. The embassy affirmed that he received appropriate medical attention and was treated humanely while detained at Guantanamo Bay.

The statement further clarified that any credible reports of abuse are thoroughly investigated and addressed through proper channels; however, no substantiated evidence was found supporting claims of sexual humiliation directed at Al Dossary.

Mark Sullivan, one of Al Dossary’s attorneys, challenged the embassy’s position by highlighting the absence of any legal proceedings following the abuse accusations. Sullivan referenced an incident described in Eric Saar’s book Inside the Wire, where interrogator Sergeant Jeanette Arocho-Burkart allegedly smeared a red substance she claimed was menstrual blood on a detainee’s face. Sullivan asserted this detainee was Al Dossary, although media sources identified the individual as Saudi.

Request for an Independent Medical Evaluation

On June 12, 2006, Al Dossary sent a letter to his attorney Colangelo-Bryan seeking an independent medical examination. He conveyed that he had contracted a serious blood-borne illness resulting from a transfusion administered after his suicide attempt on March 11, 2006.

At that time, Al Dossary had just been informed by camp officials—who had discovered the information online—of his father’s death due to terminal cancer. He reported being denied correspondence from family members, having personal items confiscated, and being placed in solitary confinement. These cumulative pressures led him to feel that his death was imminent. Authorities had promised him a rare phone call to contact his family following his father’s passing.

This June 12 letter was only declassified by military officials on July 25, 2006, leaving it unclear whether Al Dossary ever received the promised telephone call.

Correspondence Regarding Suicide

On April 18, 2007, Al Dossary composed a letter that underwent Department of Defense censorship clearance on May 20, 2007. In this letter, he expressed:

[Text of letter not provided here]

His lawyer Colangelo-Bryan characterized him as "coherent" yet "completely exhausted and desperate." Pentagon spokesperson Jeffrey D. Gordon refuted allegations of mistreatment, stating that al Qaeda trains its members to claim abuse during detention as a tactic. The Associated Press reported that this approach is intended to garner public sympathy and support for their release.

Repatriation and Release to Saudi Arabia

On July 16, 2007, the Department of Defense announced that sixteen Saudi nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay had been transferred back to Saudi authorities.

The following day, July 17, 2007, the Gulf Daily News verified that Juma was among those repatriated, attributed to his dual citizenship in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The publication highlighted that these individuals would remain in detention while Saudi officials conducted investigations into any suspected militant affiliations.

By August 23, 2007, Juma al Dossari had been freed and was receiving formal assistance from the Saudi government. Bahraini parliamentarian Mohammed Khalid noted that Saudi Arabia provided him with a vehicle, a monthly stipend, employment support, and aid in arranging marriage.

A profile published on December 21, 2007, by the Los Angeles Times outlined Al Dosari's rehabilitation experience. He reflected on the difficulties of adjusting to life after prolonged incarceration, mentioning societal shifts and personal losses endured during his detention.

On June 28, 2008, the BBC World Service broadcast a thirty-minute interview with Al Dossari, offering further insight into his reintegration process.

Jumah al Dossari's Narrative in The Washington Post

The Washington Post featured an article by Jumah al Dossari on August 17, 2008, recounting his time in U.S. detention. He described viewing United 93 (film) without initially understanding its context and being deeply moved to tears by the passengers' story.

Al Dossari recounted various abuses suffered during captivity, including brutal beatings that necessitated three days in intensive care, cigarette burns inflicted on his body, being shackled during transportation, and experiencing sexual assault. Although physical beatings diminished over time, extended solitary confinement remained a persistent challenge. He concluded with the reflection:

During my flight home, I chose forgiveness as a way to move forward. I recognize that September 11 was a profound tragedy that led some individuals to commit acts they might not have otherwise. This understanding helped me leave behind my painful experience at Guantanamo and embrace life anew, including my recent remarriage.

Encounter with Gordon Brown

On November 2, 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited a rehabilitation facility for former Guantanamo detainees in Saudi Arabia. During this visit, he met with al Dossari, Ghanim al Harbi, among others. The ex-detainees were offered accommodations, job placement assistance, and £20,000 dowries intended to facilitate marriage opportunities.

In 2009, coinciding with Barack Obama's inauguration, al-Dossari expressed optimism that Obama's prior election might have prevented Guantanamo's ongoing operation.

External links

Related profiles

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