| Sabir Mahfouz Lahmar | |
|---|---|
Sabir Mahfouz Lahmar from his OARDEC dossier |
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| Born | May 22, 1969 Constantine, Algeria |
| Detained at | Guantanamo |
| ISN | 10002 |
| Status | Won his habeas corpus after 8 years, released to France |
| Occupation | Clergyman |
Sabir Mahfouz Lahmar is a Bosnian citizen, who won his habeas corpus after being eight years and eight months in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba.[1] The Department of Defense reports that he was born on May 22, 1969, in Constantin, Algeria.
Sabir Mahfouz Lahmar was captured in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January 2002, after being cleared of suspicion by the Bosnian Supreme Court, and arrived in Guantanamo on January 21, 2002.[2] He was transferred to France on November 30, 2009, after his successful habeas corpus petition.
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Lahmar was among the 60% of prisoners who chose to participate in tribunal hearings.[3] A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for the tribunal of each detainee.
Lahmar's memo accused him of the following:[4]:[4][5]
- a. The detainee is associated with al Qaida:
- The detainee is associated with a known al Qaida facilitator.
- Bensayah Belkecem, alias Mejd is the apparent leader of the Bosnian Algerian cell and has a direct link to Usama Bin Laden.
- Bensayah Belkecem made phone calls to Abu Zubaydah, a senior aide to Usama Bin Laden, who was in charge of screening recruits for al Qaida training camps in Afghanistan.
- The detainee and Bensayah Belkecem were arrested on suspicion of being linked with international terrorism.
- The detainee had charges filed against him by the Bosnia-Herzegovina govt for International Terrorism.
- The detainee was arrested in October 01 under suspicion of planning to attack the American Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- The detainee advocated attacking U.S. forces and supported the Fatwa issued by Usama Bin Laden.
- The detainee is a member of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group and attempted to assume leadership in the organization in November 2000.
- The Algerian Armed Islamic Group is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States Department of Homeland Security Terrorist Organization Reference Guide.
- The detainee applied for a visa in Sarajevo for travel to Afghanistan on 27 September 2001.
- The detainee was jailed in late 1997, for robbing a U.S. Citizen.
Detainees whose Combatant Status Review Tribunal labeled them "enemy combatants" were scheduled for annual Administrative Review Board hearings. These hearings were designed to assess the threat a detainee may pose if released or transferred, and whether there are other factors that warrant his continued detention.[6]
Lahmar chose to participate in his Administrative Review Board hearing.[7]
US District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled, in September 2008, on Saber's habeas corpus petition.[8] He concluded that there was no evidence to support classifying him as an "enemy combatant", and that he should be released. He made the same ruling for four other Bosnians of Algerian descent.
Lahmar was transferred to French territory for release on November 30, 2009.[9] Noting that Lahmar would "finally begin to live a normal life again", the French foreign ministry pledged to help re-integrate him into society.[9]
In its coverage of his release the Washington Post noted that Leon's September 2008 ruling had ordered his release "forthwith".[10]
Three other men were transferred when Lahmar was released.[11] A Palestinian captive was transferred to Hungary. His name was not released, and authorities did not report whether he was being detained in Hungarian custody or set free. Two Tunisian captives, Adel Ben Mabrouk, and Mohamed Ben Riadh Nasri, were transferred to the custody of Italy.[12]
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