Mohammed Nayim Farouq
Mohammed Naim Farouq | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1960 Zatoon Kahil, Afghanistan |
| Other names | Mohammed Nayim, Naim Farrouqi, Commander Naim, Commander Naim Khan |
| Known for | Former Guantanamo detainee; alleged Taliban leader |
Mohammed Naim Farouq (born 1960) is an Afghan national who was subjected to extrajudicial detention at the United States' Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba. His assigned Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 633. Farouq is featured on a Defense Intelligence Agency "most wanted" list and appears in a Department of Defense statement titled "Ex-Guantanamo Detainees Who Have Returned to the Fight."
Identity
- Official detainee records list him as Mohammed Nayim Farouq and note his return to militant activities.
- He is named on the DIA most wanted roster, with his birth year recorded as 1960.
- His place of birth is documented as Zatoon Kahil, Afghanistan, according to the detainee list dated May 15, 2006.
Aliases
The "most wanted" poster identifies four alternative names associated with him:
- Mohammed Nayim,
- Naim Farrouqi,
- Commander Naim,
- Commander Naim Khan
Alleged terrorist connections
According to the most wanted poster, Farouq is linked to both the Taliban and al Qaeda organizations and is described as a leader within the Taliban militia.
On July 16, 2007, the Department of Defense released a statement entitled: Ex-Guantanamo Detainees who have returned to the fight, which included his name.
McClatchy interview
On June 15, 2008, McClatchy News Service published a series of reports based on interviews with 66 former Guantanamo detainees, among them Farouq. McClatchy’s account portrayed him as a leader of a bandit faction before his capture, denying any connections to al-Qaeda or the Taliban. Afghan Attorney General Abdul Jabar Sabit characterized him as a "rural gangster," whereas Farouq described himself as leading a vigilante group responsible for maintaining local order. He recounted conflicts with the Taliban during their rule that eventually resulted in a fragile truce due to his tribal authority.
After the Taliban’s removal, Farouq assumed the role of head of Security for Zormat District, though it remains uncertain whether this position was officially sanctioned or emerged from local power structures. His detention occurred following confrontations with U.S. forces who had arrested some of his associates.
Subsequent allegations by Afghan officials claimed Farouq resumed Taliban leadership after returning from detention; however, he insisted his objective was solely preserving stability in the region.
Farouq reported experiencing frequent mistreatment by U.S. captors and resisted cooperating during interrogations, expressing animosity toward both Osama bin Laden and his interrogators. He described being stripped naked during questioning at Kandahar detention facility and Bagram Theater Detention Facility, and witnessing U.S. soldiers disrespecting the Koran.
Claims regarding Taliban and al-Qaeda involvement
In May 2009, New York Times journalist Elizabeth Bumiller referenced a leaked document alleging Farouq’s ties to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. On May 26, 2009, McClatchy News Service published an excerpt from an interview where Farouq explained that his province initially welcomed American forces and that he was its first detainee. Although offered by the Hamid Karzai administration to resume his position as District Chief, years of humiliation during U.S. detention led him to refuse.