Naim Kuchi
Naim Kuchi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1940 Logar, Afghanistan |
| Occupation(s) | Tribal leader, former Deputy Minister for Tribal Affairs, provincial administrator |
| Known for | Senior leader of the Kuchis ethnic community; former Guantanamo detainee |
Naim Kuchi is an Afghan national who experienced extrajudicial detention at the United States' Guantanamo Bay detention camp located in Cuba. He was assigned the Guantanamo Internment Serial Number 931. According to Joint Task Force Guantanamo, his year of birth is estimated to be 1940, with his place of origin being Logar, Afghanistan.
As a prominent tribal figure, Kuchi holds a senior leadership position among Afghanistan's Kuchis ethnic community. During the administration of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani (1992–1996), he occupied the role of Deputy Minister for Tribal Affairs. Additionally, under Taliban rule, he administered the province of Bamiyan. The Edmonton Sun referred to him as the most recognized leader of the Kuchis.
Release
Documentation made public on March 15, 2007, indicates Kuchi’s "in-process date" as March 23, 2003. His height was recorded at 69 inches, and his weight fluctuated from 175 pounds upon arrival to 185 pounds during subsequent weigh-ins up to August 2004.
He was returned to Afghanistan on September 18, 2004, shortly after the Office for the Administrative Review of Detained Enemy Combatants initiated Combatant Status Review Tribunals. Notably, no CSR Tribunal reviewed his detention status before his release. In contrast, another detainee released on the same day, Dawd Gul, underwent a CSR Tribunal prior to repatriation.
McClatchy interview
On June 15, 2008, the McClatchy News Service published a series of articles based on interviews with 66 former detainees from Guantanamo. Reporters sought to interview Naim Kuchi; however, he declined on two occasions and reported feelings of depression and health complications attributed to his time in detention.
The coverage highlighted Kuchi’s status as a senior leader within the Ahmadzai tribe, which is the largest Pashtun tribe, underscoring his importance as an authentic Afghan authority figure. Following his return to Afghanistan, he has participated in initiatives promoting national peace and reconciliation.
When U.S. forces detained him on January 1, 2003, hundreds of members from his tribe demonstrated in Kabul. The United States government has not offered any official rationale for his detention.