Man held at Guantánamo for 13 years a case of mistaken identity, say officials
A man who has spent 13 years in the US prison camp at Guantánamo
Bay, Cuba, was arrested partly in a case of mistaken identity, US officials
conceded Tuesday.
Officials admitted that Mustafa al-Aziz al-Shamiri, 37, was a low-level
Islamist foot soldier and not an al-Qaida courier and trainer as previously
thought, during a Guantanamo hearing.
Wearing a beard and voluminous white T-shirt, and accompanied by a
linguist and two personal representatives, the Yemeni appeared before a
panel assessing whether he can be released.
A profile published by the Department of Defense maintains he fought in
Afghanistan and mixed with members of al-Qaida. But officials concede
that they wrongly believed he had a more significant role because he was
confused with others who had a similar name.
“Mustafa Abd-al-Qawi Abd-al-Aziz al-
Shamiri (YM-434) fought in several
jihadist theaters and associated with al-
Qaida members in Afghanistan,” the
unclassified detainee profile said. “It was
previously assessed that YM-434 also was
an al-Qaida facilitator or courier, as well as a trainer, but we now judge
that these activities were carried out by other known extremists with
names or aliases similar to YM-434’s.”
The profile added that fragmentary reporting links al-Shamiri to fighting
in Bosnia in 1995, and he told interrogators that he fought in Yemen’s
civil war in 1996 and in Afghanistan for the Taliban from 2000 to 2001 –
including against the Northern Alliance and US forces – before his
capture near Mazar-e-Sharif. He has since been an indefinite detainee,
considered too dangerous to release but without adequate evidence to
bring to trial.
A statement from al-Shamiri’s personal representative described him as
very cooperative, enthusiastic and supportive in the preparation for the
board hearing. “From the onset, he has demonstrated a consistent positive
attitude towards life after Gitmo,” he said. “He has a strong desire to
obtain an education in order to provide for a future spouse that his family
has already located for him.
“Mustafa will show you today that he is not a continuing significant
threat to the United States of America. He is earnestly preparing for his
life after Gitmo. During his time in detention, he has attended English
and art classes, in addition to acquiring carpentry and cooking skills.
During the last feast, Mustafa generously took the time to prepare over
30 plates of pastries for his fellow detainees. When I asked him why he
would make pastries for his fellow detainees, he said it’s because it
makes him feel like he can give back and share with people.”
The statement added: “Mustafa does have
remorse for choosing the wrong path early
in life. He has vocalized to us that while he
cannot change the past, he would definitely
have chosen a different path. He wants to
make a life for himself. He is aware that
Yemen is not an option and he is willing to go to any country that will
accept him.”
The 17-minute opening of the hearing was broadcast via video link to
journalists in Arlington, Virginia. They were then required to leave
before classified details were discussed.
Al-Shamiri has been held as an enemy combatant without charge at
Guantánamo since 2002. He is one of 107 prisoners at the controversial
base, 48 of whom have been cleared for release. It is not certain when he
will learn if he is to become number 49
Bay, Cuba, was arrested partly in a case of mistaken identity, US officials
conceded Tuesday.
Officials admitted that Mustafa al-Aziz al-Shamiri, 37, was a low-level
Islamist foot soldier and not an al-Qaida courier and trainer as previously
thought, during a Guantanamo hearing.
Wearing a beard and voluminous white T-shirt, and accompanied by a
linguist and two personal representatives, the Yemeni appeared before a
panel assessing whether he can be released.
A profile published by the Department of Defense maintains he fought in
Afghanistan and mixed with members of al-Qaida. But officials concede
that they wrongly believed he had a more significant role because he was
confused with others who had a similar name.
“Mustafa Abd-al-Qawi Abd-al-Aziz al-
Shamiri (YM-434) fought in several
jihadist theaters and associated with al-
Qaida members in Afghanistan,” the
unclassified detainee profile said. “It was
previously assessed that YM-434 also was
an al-Qaida facilitator or courier, as well as a trainer, but we now judge
that these activities were carried out by other known extremists with
names or aliases similar to YM-434’s.”
The profile added that fragmentary reporting links al-Shamiri to fighting
in Bosnia in 1995, and he told interrogators that he fought in Yemen’s
civil war in 1996 and in Afghanistan for the Taliban from 2000 to 2001 –
including against the Northern Alliance and US forces – before his
capture near Mazar-e-Sharif. He has since been an indefinite detainee,
considered too dangerous to release but without adequate evidence to
bring to trial.
A statement from al-Shamiri’s personal representative described him as
very cooperative, enthusiastic and supportive in the preparation for the
board hearing. “From the onset, he has demonstrated a consistent positive
attitude towards life after Gitmo,” he said. “He has a strong desire to
obtain an education in order to provide for a future spouse that his family
has already located for him.
“Mustafa will show you today that he is not a continuing significant
threat to the United States of America. He is earnestly preparing for his
life after Gitmo. During his time in detention, he has attended English
and art classes, in addition to acquiring carpentry and cooking skills.
During the last feast, Mustafa generously took the time to prepare over
30 plates of pastries for his fellow detainees. When I asked him why he
would make pastries for his fellow detainees, he said it’s because it
makes him feel like he can give back and share with people.”
The statement added: “Mustafa does have
remorse for choosing the wrong path early
in life. He has vocalized to us that while he
cannot change the past, he would definitely
have chosen a different path. He wants to
make a life for himself. He is aware that
Yemen is not an option and he is willing to go to any country that will
accept him.”
The 17-minute opening of the hearing was broadcast via video link to
journalists in Arlington, Virginia. They were then required to leave
before classified details were discussed.
Al-Shamiri has been held as an enemy combatant without charge at
Guantánamo since 2002. He is one of 107 prisoners at the controversial
base, 48 of whom have been cleared for release. It is not certain when he
will learn if he is to become number 49
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