Issa Ali Abdullah al Murbati is a citizen of Bahrain who was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba.[1][2] Al Murbati's Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 52.[1] American counter-terrorism analysts estimate he was born in 1965, in Manama, Bahrain.
| Issa Ali Abdullah al Murbati | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 (age 58–59) Manama, Bahrain |
| Detained at | Guantanamo |
| ISN | 52 |
| Charge(s) | No charge (held in extrajudicial detention) |
| Status | Repatriated |
Detention in Kandahar edit
While held at Kandahar Airfield, al-Murbati and Moazzam Begg began playing chess on a board the International Red Cross had brought for the detainees.[3]
Al Murbati participated in the hunger strikes of 2005.[4][5]
Allegations edit
The allegations against Al Murbati, from the Summary of Evidence memo, prepared for his Combatant Status Review Tribunal, were:[6]
- a The detainee is associated with Al Qaeda:
- On November 2, 2001, detainee voluntarily traveled from Bahrain to Afghanistan.
- The detainee traveled to Afghanistan via Pakistan where he planned to fight in the Jihad.
- Detainee was a follower of Abu Sayyef; they met in the Philippines. They discussed getting money to Arabs in Afghanistan.
- Abu Sayyef Group is a known terrorist organization.
- b The detainee participated in military operations against the United States and its coalition partners.
- Detainee was injured by a grenade while traveling to Khowst, Afghanistan, and given treatment at a hospital.
- Detainee was told that if he went to war and fought the Jihad, he would be a better person and have his 15,000 Dinar debt forgiven, and eventually he traveled to Afghanistan.
- Al Murbati discovered that there was not training available in Kandahar, and since he did not know how to use a Kalisnikov rifle, he traveled to Kabul by taxi, after learning there was training there.
Habeas corpus submission edit
Al Murbati is one of the sixteen Guantanamo captives whose amalgamated habeas corpus submissions were heard by US District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton, on January 31, 2007.[7]
Al Murbati has been represented by Joshua Colangelo-Bryan and Clive Stafford Smith. A campaign to free him is being led by Bahraini MP Mohammed Khalid.
Release edit
Al Murbati was released during August 2007. He was the last Bahraini to be released. On Thursday, August 23, 2007, the Gulf Daily News reported that Bahraini Member of Parliament Mohammed Khalid had called for the Bahrain government to provide financial compensation to the released men.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b OARDEC (2006-05-15). "List of Individuals Detained by the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from January 2002 through May 15, 2006" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ documents (.pdf) Archived 2020-05-21 at the Wayback Machine from Isa Ali Abdulla Almurbati's Combatant Status Review Tribunal, October 12, 2004
- ^ Begg, Moazzam, "Enemy Combatant", 2006.
- ^ Abdulrahman Fakhri (September 5, 2005). "'Help me' plea by Bay detainee". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
- ^ Eric Schmitt, Tim Golden (22 February 2006). "Forced feeding at Guantanamo is now acknowledged". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
- ^ Summary of Evidence memo (.pdf) Archived 2020-05-21 at the Wayback Machine prepared for Isa Ali Abdulla Almurbati's Combatant Status Review Tribunal, September 15, 2004
- ^ Reggie B. Walton (January 31, 2007). "Gherebi, et al. v. Bush" (PDF). United States Department of Justice. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
- ^ Geoffrey Bew (August 23, 2007). "Bay victims may get BD50,000". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
External links edit
- Isa al-Murbati, the last Bahraini in Guantánamo, returns home (and a former Taliban minister returns to Afghanistan) Andy Worthington
- Bushehri,Shereen Bahrain Urged to Stand Up for Rights of Citizens in Guantanamo Arab News February 6, 2005
- Forced feeding at Guantanamo is now acknowledged, New York Times, 22 February 2006