Abib Sarajuddin Explained

Abib Sarajuddin
Id Number:458
Charge:No charge (held in extrajudicial detention)
Status:Repatriated

Abib Sarajuddin is a citizen of Afghanistan, who was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.[1] His Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 458.Guantanamo intelligence analysts estimate that he was born in 1942.

Summary

Sarajuddin, his brother Khan Zaman, his son Gul Zaman, and his neighbor Mohammad Gul, were all captured on the night of January 21, 2002, early during the administration of Hamid Karzai.[2] Gul Zaman, and Mohammad Gul were released. Combatant Status Review Tribunals for Abib Sarajuddin and Khan Zaman confirmed the original determination that they had been correctly classified as "enemy combatants".

The New York Times article

The New York Times published an article about the search for Jalaluddin Haqqani, and how it led to the aerial bombardment of Sarajuddin's home.[2] The New York Times article was presented as an exhibit to Sarajuddin's Combatant Status Review Tribunal.

The New York Times article said that Sarajuddin hosted Jalaluddin Haqqani overnight out of traditional hospitality; that other villagers had reported Haqqani's stay; and that American forces had bombarded Sarajuddin's household from the air, on November 16, 2002, killing everyone except Sarajuddin and Haqqani. According to The New York Times, Sarajuddin, and the other three were arrested on January 21, 2002. The New York Times quoted various American officers who predicted that Sarajuddin would soon be released.

Combatant Status Review Tribunal

Initially the Bush administration asserted 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 a competent tribunals to determine whether captives are, or are not, entitled to the protections of prisoner of war status.

Subsequently, the US 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 administration's definition of an enemy combatant.

Summary of Evidence memo

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Abib Sarajuddin'sCombatant Status Review Tribunal, on 22 November 2004.[3] The memo listed the following allegations against him:

Transcript

Sarajuddin chose to participate in his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.[4] On March 3, 2006, in response to a court order from Jed Rakoff the Department of Defense published a summarized transcript from his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.[5]

Surajadin Abib v. George W. Bush

A writ of habeas corpus, Surajadin Abib v. George W. Bush, was submitted on his behalf.[6] In responsethe Department of Defense published 47pages of unclassified documents related to his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.

On December 3, 2004 Tribunal panel 27 confirmed his "enemy combatant status".

Administrative Review Board hearing

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.[7] 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.

Summary of Evidence memo

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Abib Sarajuddin'sAdministrative Review Board, on26 September 2005.[8] The memo listed factors for and against his continued detention.

The following factors favor continued detention

The following primary factors favor release or transfer

Transcript

Sarajuddin chose to participate in his Administrative Review Board hearing.[9] In the Spring of 2006, in response to a court order from Jed Rakoff the Department of Defense published a summarized transcript from his Administrative Review Board.[5]

Board recommendations

In early September 2007 the Department of Defense released two heavily redacted memos, from his Board, to Gordon R. England, the Designated Civilian Official.[10] [11] The Board's recommendation was unanimousThe Board's recommendation was redacted.England authorized transfer on 10 December 2005.

McClatchy interview

On June 15, 2008, the McClatchy News Service published articles based on interviews with 66 former Guantanamo captives. McClatchy reporters interviewed Sarajuddin.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] The McClatchy report repeats Sarajuddin's denial that he had any ties with Jalladudin Haqqani. But, according to the McClatchy report, The New York Times reported the airstrike that destroyed his home, and killed his relatives, occurred when Jalladudin Haqqani was present. According to the McClatchy report neighbors and local officials stated that Sarajuddin did have ties to Haqqani.

Sarajuddin told reporters he suffered ongoing mental problems caused by his experiences in US custody.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Individuals Detained by the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from January 2002 through May 15, 2006. PDF. OARDEC. OARDEC. United States Department of Defense. May 15, 2006. 2007-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184034/http://www.dod.mil/news/May2006/d20060515%20List.pdf. 30 September 2007 . live.
  2. News: Villagers Say Errors by U.S. Causing Grief For Innocent . The New York Times . John F. Burns . John F. Burns . 2002-02-02 . 2016-10-07 .
  3. Web site: Summary of Evidence for Combatant Status Review Tribunal -- Sarajuddin, Abib . 22 November 2004 . 7 . OARDEC . OARDEC . . 2008-05-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071203003522/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/000400-000499.pdf#7 . 3 December 2007.
  4. Web site: Summarized Statement. n.d.. 36–41. OARDEC. OARDEC. United States Department of Defense. 2008-05-24. 2016-12-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20161218203404/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/Reading_Room/Detainee_Related/Set_27_1901-1948.pdf#36. dead.
  5. News: US releases Guantanamo files. The Age. April 4, 2006. 2008-03-15.
  6. Web site: Surajadin Abib v. George W. Bush -- 05-1000. ages 37–83. United States Department of Defense. 2008-05-24. 2008-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510103947/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/publicly_filed_CSRT_records_2402-2484.pdf#37. dead.
  7. News: OARDEC provides recommendations to Deputy Secretary of Defense . . Army Sgt. Sarah Stannard . October 29, 2007 . 2008-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100520124040/http://www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil/storyarchive/2007/October/102907-2-oardec.html . 2010-05-20 . dead.
  8. Web site: Unclassified Summary of Evidence for Administrative Review Board in the case of Sarajuddin, Abib . 26 September 2005 . 45–46 . OARDEC . OARDEC . . 2008-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080529202206/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/ARB_Round_1_Factors_000394-000494.pdf#45 . 29 May 2008 . dead.
  9. Web site: Summary of Administrative Review Board Proceedings of ISN 458. n.d.. OARDEC. 193–206. United States Department of Defense. 2008-05-24. 2015-06-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627102829/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/Reading_Room/Detainee_Related/ARB_Transcript_Set_6_20255-20496.pdf#193. dead.
  10. Web site: Administrative Review Board assessment and recommendation ICO ISN 458. 10 December 2005. OARDEC. OARDEC. United States Department of Defense. 2008-05-23. 67. 2011-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524064715/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/ARB_Round_1_Decision_memos_000860-000968.pdf$67. dead.
  11. Web site: Classified Record of Proceedings and basis of Administrative Review Board recommendation for ISN 458. 13 October 2005. OARDEC. OARDEC. United States Department of Defense. 2008-05-17. 68–73. https://web.archive.org/web/20080510103242/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/ARB_Round_1_Decision_memos_000860-000968.pdf. 10 May 2008 . live.
  12. News: Guantanamo Inmate Database: Page 3 . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 15, 2008 . 2008-06-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714055906/http://services.mcclatchyinteractive.com/detainees?page=3 . 2011-07-14.
  13. News: U.S. hasn't apologized to or compensated ex-detainees . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 18, 2008 . 2008-06-18 . dead . https://archive.today/20080619010921/http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/611/story/491372.html . 2008-06-19.
  14. News: Pentagon declined to answer questions about detainees . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 15, 2008 . 2008-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080615214204/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/38771.html . 15 June 2008 . bot: unknown .
  15. News: Documents undercut Pentagon's denial of routine abuse . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 16, 2008 . 2008-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080619001329/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/38776.html . 19 June 2008 . bot: unknown .
  16. News: Deck stacked against detainees in legal proceedings . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 19, 2008 . 2008-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080620122327/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/38887.html . 20 June 2008 . bot: unknown .
  17. News: U.S. abuse of detainees was routine at Afghanistan bases . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 16, 2008 . 2008-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080620001639/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/38775.html . 20 June 2008 . bot: unknown .
  18. News: Guantanamo Inmate Database: Sarajuddin . . Tom Lasseter . Tom Lasseter . June 15, 2008 . 2008-06-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080920043312/http://detainees.mcclatchydc.com/detainees/29 . 2008-09-20.