U.S. Holding 26 Ghost Detainees
BY MASOOD HAIDER
 
NEW YORK, DEC 4. The United States is holding at least twenty-six
persons as “ghost detainees” at undisclosed locations outside of
the United States, Human Rights Watch said in a report ,
The detainees are being held at secret foreign prisons
indefinitely, incommunicado, without legal rights or access to
counsel, the New York based HRW said Friday.
The list comes to light as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
prepares for a visit to Europe to answer allegations about
secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe. Rising
anger in Europe about possible secret American jails on the
continent, kidnappings there of terror suspects and transfers of
prisoners on European soil seems to have prompted Rice to make
the trip.
Many of the detainees listed are suspected of involvement in
serious crimes, including the September 11, 2001 attacks; the
1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania; and the 2002
nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia. One of the detainees
listed was indicted in U.S. federal court for his role in the
1998 embassy bombings. None of the other detainees has been
charged with any crime.
Officials in the U.S. government, speaking anonymously to
journalists, have suggested that some detainees have been
tortured or otherwise seriously mistreated in custody.
“President Bush speaks about bringing terrorists to justice, yet
not one of these suspects has actually been brought to justice,”
said John Sifton, terrorism and counterterrorism researcher for
Human Rights Watch. “The Bush administration has severely
compromised the chances of prosecuting terrorist suspects by
holding them illegally, and reportedly subjecting some of them
to torture and other mistreatment.”
Indefinite incommunicado detention and torture are illegal under
international human rights law and the laws of war, and the
mistreatment of detainees could subject U.S. officials to
criminal liability.
Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst for the human rights
group based in New York said that torture and secret prisons
were contrary to international law - a fact that he said could
actually benefit the suspects if they are tried.
"Instead of being brought to trial they are just sitting around
God-knows-where," he said. "Our concern is that if illegal
methods such as torture are being used against them," trials may
"either be impossible or questionable under international
standards of jurisprudence."
There are estimated to be 100 prisoners
held without charges outside the United States.
Following is the "ghost detainees" list.
1. Ibn Al-Shaykh al-Libi
Reportedly arrested on November 11, 2001, Pakistan.
Libyan, suspected commander at al-Qaeda training camp.
Previously listed as “disappeared” by Human Rights Watch.
2. Abu Faisal
Reportedly arrested on December 12, 2001
3. Abdul Aziz
Reportedly arrested on December 14, 2001
Nationality unknown.
4. Abu Zubaydah (also known as Zain al-Abidin Muhahhad
Husain) Reportedly arrested in March 2002, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Palestinian (born in Saudi Arabia),
5. Abdul Rahim al-Sharqawi (aka Riyadh the facilitator)
Reportedly arrested in January 2002
6. Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi Reportedly arrested in January
2002. Nationality unknown,
7. Muhammed al-Darbi
Reportedly arrested in August 2002. Yemeni, suspected al-Qaeda
member.
8. Ramzi bin al-Shibh
Reportedly arrested on September 13, 2002 Yemeni, suspected
al-Qaeda conspirator in Sept. 11 attacks (former roommate of one
of the hijackers)
9. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri (or Abdulrahim Mohammad Abda
al-Nasheri, aka Abu Bilal al-Makki or Mullah Ahmad Belal)
Reportedly arrested in November 2002, United Arab Emirates.
Saudi or Yemeni's:
10. Mohammed Omar Abdel-Rahman (aka Asadullah)
Reportedly arrested in February 2003, Quetta, Pakistan.
11. Mustafa al-Hawsawi (aka al-Hisawi)
Reportedly arrested on March 1, 2003 (together with Khalid
Sheikh Mohammad), Pakistan. Saudi, suspected al-Qaeda financier.
Previously listed as “disappeared” by Human Rights Watch.
12. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Reportedly arrested on March 1, 2003, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
13. Majid Khan
Reportedly arrested on March-April 2003, Pakistan.
Pakistani, alleged link to Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, alleged
involvement in plot to blow up gas stations in the United
States.
14. Yassir al-Jazeeri (aka al-Jaziri)
Reportedly arrested on March 15, 2003, Pakistan.
15. Ali Abdul Aziz Ali (aka Ammar al Baluchi)
Reportedly arrested on April 29, 2003, Karachi, Pakistan.
16. Waleed Mohammed bin Attash (aka Tawfiq bin Attash or
Tawfiq Attash Khallad)
17. Adil al-Jazeeri
Reportedly arrested on June 17, 2003 outside Peshawar, Pakistan.
18. Hambali (aka Riduan Isamuddin)
Reportedly arrested on August 11, 2003, Thailand.
19. Mohamad Nazir bin Lep (aka Lillie, or Li-Li)
Reportedly arrested in August 2003, Bangkok, Thailand.
Malaysian, alleged link to Hambali. See next entry.
20. Mohamad Farik Amin (aka Zubair)
Reportedly arrested in June 2003, Thailand.
21. Tariq Mahmood
Reportedly arrested in October 2003, Islamabad, Pakistan.
22. Hassan Ghul
Reportedly arrested on January 23, 2004, in Kurdish highlands,
Iraq.
Pakistanis:
23. Musaad Aruchi (aka Musab al-Baluchi, al-Balochi, al-Baloshi)
Reportedly arrested in Karachi on June 12, 2004, in a
“CIA-supervised operation.” Presumably Pakistani.
24. Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan (aka Abu Talaha)
Reportedly arrested on July 13, 2004, Pakistan.
Pakistani, computer engineer, was held by Pakistani authorities,
and likely transferred to U.S. custody.
25. Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani
Reportedly arrested on July 24, 2004, Pakistan
Tanzanian, reportedly indicted in the United States for 1998
embassy bombings.
26. Abu Faraj al-Libi
Reportedly arrested on May 4, 2005, North Western Frontier
Province, Pakistan.
|
