Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad
Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 Al Qameshle, Syria |
| Occupation | Former detainee |
| Known for | Detention at Guantanamo Bay |
Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad, a Syrian national, was subjected to extrajudicial detention at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay detention camp located in Cuba. Born in 1972 in Al Qameshle, Syria, he belongs to the Kurdish ethnic group.
Mouhammad remained confined at Guantanamo for close to eight years before being released to Bulgaria on May 4, 2010.
Official status reviews
Under the administration of George W. Bush, individuals apprehended during the "war on terror" were designated as outside the scope of the Geneva Conventions, permitting indefinite detention without formal charges or transparent procedures.[1]
In 2004, the United States Supreme Court determined in Rasul v. Bush that detainees at Guantanamo must be notified of the accusations against them and afforded a chance to challenge their imprisonment.
Office for the Administrative Review of Detained Enemy Combatants
Following this Supreme Court decision, the United States Department of Defense created the Office for the Administrative Review of Detained Enemy Combatants.[1][2]
In December 2008, researchers at the Brookings Institution, led by Benjamin Wittes, classified Guantanamo detainees based on allegations justifying their continued detention:[3]
- Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad was purportedly associated with the Taliban.
- He was alleged to have resided in Al Qaeda, Taliban, or other militant safehouses.
- He was accused of receiving military or terrorist training within Afghanistan.
- He was reported to have been present during the battle at Tora Bora.
- His name or aliases were found on materials confiscated during Al Qaeda raids.
- He was identified as a foreign fighter.
Habeas corpus petition
A writ of habeas corpus was filed on behalf of Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad.
On July 15, 2008, attorney Kristine A. Huskey submitted a "notice of petitioners' request for 30 days' notice of transfer" concerning several detainees, including Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad.
Formerly secret Joint Task Force Guantanamo assessment
On April 25, 2011, whistleblower organization WikiLeaks disclosed previously classified evaluations conducted by analysts from Joint Task Force Guantanamo. His 14-page report, dated April 5, 2008, was signed by camp commander Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, who recommended that detention continue.
Asylum in Canada
On February 10, 2009, CBC News reported that Maasoum Abdah Mouhammad became the fifth former Guantanamo detainee sponsored for refugee status in Canada. The other four included Djamel Ameziane, who had previously lived in Canada before traveling to Afghanistan; Hassan Anvar; and two other Uyghur captives from Guantanamo.
Asylum in Bulgaria
Reuters reported in December 2009 that Bulgaria was engaged in negotiations to accept former Guantanamo detainees. On May 4, 2010, three detainees were transferred by the US to European nations; their citizenships were disclosed but not their names. Historian Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files, identified the Syrian sent to Bulgaria as Maasoum and noted his family had joined him there.
Local media conveyed that Maasoum stated he had traveled to Afghanistan seeking a spouse and was wrongfully detained without involvement in combat. According to Balkan Insight, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov indicated that Bulgaria intended to accept a former detainee who was married, under the age of 40, and demonstrated good conduct during captivity.
In December 2010, Der Spiegel revealed through leaked diplomatic cables that Bulgaria negotiated with the US regarding acceptance of former detainees. In return for granting refugee status to two individuals, the US agreed to remove visa requirements for Bulgarian travelers.
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Critics contended that the Combatant Status Review Tribunals lacked impartiality and due process safeguards, such as legal counsel and protection against coerced testimony.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBbc2002-01-21 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBrookings2008-12-16