Salim Suliman Al Harbi

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Salim Suliman Al Harbi is a citizen of Saudi Arabia, held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.[1] His Guantanamo Internee Security Number is 57. Joint Task Force Guantanamo counter-terrorism analysts report that he was born on November 22, 1968, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 11/22/1968

Contents

[edit] Combatant Status Review Tribunal

Combatant Status Review Tribunal notice read to a Guantanamo captive. During the period July 2004 through March 2005 a Combatant Status Review Tribunal was convened to make a determination whether they had been correctly classified as an "enemy combatant". Participation was optional. The Department of Defense reports that 317 of the 558 captives who remained in Guantanamo, in military custody, attended their Tribunals.
Combatant Status Review Tribunal notice read to a Guantanamo captive. During the period July 2004 through March 2005 a Combatant Status Review Tribunal was convened to make a determination whether they had been correctly classified as an "enemy combatant". Participation was optional. The Department of Defense reports that 317 of the 558 captives who remained in Guantanamo, in military custody, attended their Tribunals.

Initially the Bush Presidency asserted[citation needed] that they could withhold all the protections of the Geneva Conventions to captives from the war on terror. This policy was challenged before the Judicial branch. Critics argued that the USA could not evade its obligation to conduct competent tribunals to determine whether captives are, or are not, entitled to the protections of prisoner of war status.

Subsequently the Department of Defense instituted the Combatant Status Review Tribunals. The Tribunals, however, were not authorized to determine whether the captives were lawful combatants -- rather they were merely empowered to make a recommendation as to whether the captive had previously been correctly determined to match the Bush Presidency's definition of an enemy combatant.

[edit] Summary of Evidence memo

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Salim Suliman Al Harbi's Combatant Status Review Tribunal, on 13 October 2004.[2] The memo listed the following allegations against him:

The detainee is associated with al Qaida:
  1. The detainee was identified by the Saudi Government as a priority target.
  2. The detainee went to Afghanistan in 1990/1991 for jihad.
  3. The detainee is associated with Tablighi Jamaat.
  4. Tablighi Jamaat]] is also known as Jama'at Tablighi.
  5. Jama'at Al Tablighi, a Pakistan based Islamic missionary organization is being used as a cover to mask travel and activities of terrorists including members of al Qaida.
  6. The detainee was captured by Pakistani forces while trying to cross into Pakistan.

[edit] Transcript

There is no record that Salim Suliman Al Harbi chose to participate in his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.

[edit] Administrative Review Board hearing

Hearing room where Guantanamo captive's annual Administrative Review Board hearings convened for captives whose Combatant Status Review Tribunal had already determined they were an "enemy combatant".
Hearing room where Guantanamo captive's annual Administrative Review Board hearings convened for captives whose Combatant Status Review Tribunal had already determined they were an "enemy combatant".[3]

Detainees who were determined to have been properly classified as "enemy combatants" were scheduled to have their dossier reviewed at annual Administrative Review Board hearings. The Administrative Review Boards weren't authorized to review whether a detainee qualified for POW status, and they weren't authorized to review whether a detainee should have been classified as an "enemy combatant".

They were authorized to consider whether a detainee should continue to be detained by the United States, because they continued to pose a threat -- or whether they could safely be repatriated to the custody of their home country, or whether they could be set free.

[edit] First annual Administrative Review Board

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Salim Suliman Al Harbi's first annual Administrative Review Board, on 1 June 2005.[4] The memo listed factors for and against his continued detention.

[edit] Second annual Administrative Review Board

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Salim Suliman Al Harbi's second annual Administrative Review Board, on 3 December 2004.[5] The memo listed factors for and against his continued detention.

[edit] Board recommendations

In early September 2007 the Department of Defense released two heavily redacted memos, from his Board, to Gordon England, the Designated Civilian Official.[6][7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ list of prisoners, US Department of Defense, May 15, 2006
  2. ^ OARDEC (13 October 2004). Summary of Evidence for Combatant Status Review Tribunal - Al Harbi, Salim Suliman page 69. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  3. ^ Spc Timothy Book. "Review process unprecedented", JTF-GTMO Public Affairs Office, Friday March 10, 2006, pp. pg 1. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. 
  4. ^ OARDEC (1 June 2005). Unclassified Summary of Evidence for Administrative Review Board in the case of Al Harbi, Salim Suliman pages 79-82. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  5. ^ OARDEC (undated). Unclassified Summary of Evidence for Administrative Review Board in the case of Al Harbi, Salim Suliman pages 14-16. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  6. ^ OARDEC (July 31, 2006). Administrative Review Board assessment and recommendation ICO ISN 57 page 29. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  7. ^ OARDEC (April 4, 2006). Classified Record of Proceedings and basis of Administrative Review Board recommendation for ISN 57 pages 30-38. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.