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A total of 134 Saudi citizens have been held in the United States' Guantanamo Bay detention camps at its naval base in Cuba since January 2002. Most had been swept up in Afghanistan following the US invasion in the fall of 2001, and they were classified by the US government as enemy combatants.

In addition, a United States citizen, Yaser Esam Hamdi, who was born in Louisiana but moved as a child with his parents to Saudi Arabia, where he also had citizenship, was initially held there. As an American citizen, he was transferred to a military prison brig on the mainland of the United States. His challenge to his detention, without being informed of charges or brought to trial, was a case that reached the United States Supreme Court. In Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004), the Supreme Court ruled that detainees who are U.S. citizens must have the rights of due process, and the ability to challenge their enemy combatant status before an impartial authority. After this decision, the government made a deal with Hamdi. After he agreed to renounce his US citizenship and observe travel restrictions, in October 2004 Hamdi was deported to Saudi Arabia. He has returned to his family.

Following the deaths of two Saudi citizens in custody on June 10, 2006, and another on May 30, 2007, which the Department of Defense claimed were due to suicides, the Saudi government put pressure on the United States to release its citizens. Nearly 100 were returned to Saudi Arabia from June 2006 through 2007.[citation needed]

Two Saudi citizens are believed to still be held at the detention camp as of January 2024.[1]

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History

Thumb
Yaser Esam Hamdi, a former US citizen from Saudi Arabia at the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp in April 2002

In January 2002, the United States completed the first phase of construction of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp at its naval base in Cuba. It was designed to hold enemy combatants captured in its war on terror - most taken during action in Afghanistan beginning in the fall of 2001. In total, the US has held 133 Saudi Arabian citizens at Guantanamo. The United States has held a total of 778 detainees in the Guantanamo Bay detention camps at its naval base in Cuba since the camps opened on January 11, 2002. The camp population peaked in 2004 at approximately 660. As of December 2024, 27 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.[2]

Three Saudis: Yasser Talal Al Zahrani, Mani Shaman Turki al-Habardi Al-Utaybi and Abdul Rahman al-Amri, died at Guantanamo in 2006 and 2007 during their detention.[1] All were announced by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) as suicides.

The first two were among three men who died on June 10, 2006; the circumstances of their deaths have been strongly questioned by numerous sources, including the Saudi government and the men's families. Journalists and the Center for Policy and Research in its 2009 report have noted glaring inconsistencies in the NCIS report of 2008. Based on an account by four former guards at Guantanamo, Scott Horton suggested in 2010 that the men died as a result of torture and government agencies tried to cover this up.[3] Al-Amri died on May 30, 2007, an apparent suicide, according to the United States DOD.[4]

As a result of these deaths, the Saudi government strongly pressured the United States to repatriate its citizens. It developed a reintegration program for former detainees and has worked with them on religious re-education, and reintegrating them into society by arranging for marriages and jobs. From June 2006 and December 2007, a total of 93 Saudi citizens were returned to the country.[5] As of today, two Saudi citizens are still held at the detention camp.[1]

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Saudi citizens held in Guantanamo

More information releasedate, isn ...
release
date
isnnamenotes
2007-12-2900005Abdul Aziz Al Matrafi
2007-07-1600013Fahed Nasser Mohamed
  • Reports being tortured in custody.[6]
  • Reports being sold for a bounty.[6]
  • Repatriated on July 16, 2007, with fifteen other men.[7][8]
2007-02-2000025Majeed Abdullah Al Joudi
  • Defense Department's April 7, 2009, analysis of Guantanamo recidivists lists Joudi as a "confirmed" recidivist.[9]
2015-09-2100042Abdul Rahman Shalabi
  • On hunger strike for more than five years. Reportedly suffering health problems caused by the hunger strike. Shalabi has been force fed for many years by means of strapping him forcefully into a restraint chair and pumping liquid nutrients through his nose into his stomach. Shalabi said after enduring this procedure for over four years, it causes him extreme pain and he feels as if he is treated like an animal.[10][11][12][13]
Held00049Assem Matruq Mohammad Al Aasmi
2007-09-0500051Majid Al Barayan
2007-07-1500053Saud Dakhil Allah Muslih Al Mahayawi
2006-12-1300055Muhammed Yahia Mosin Al Zayla
2006-06-2400058Musa Abed Al Wahab
2007-11-0900059Sultan Ahmed Dirdeer Musa Al Uwaydha
2007-07-1500062Muhamad Naji Subhi Al Juhani
  • Described as having "no ties to militancy whatsoever".[8]
2022-03-0600063Mohammed al-Qahtani
2006-05-1800064Abdel Hadi Mohammed Badan Al Sebaii Sebaii
2007-07-1500066Yahya Samil Al Suwaymil Al Sulami
  • Described as having "no ties to militancy whatsoever".[8]
2007-11-0900068Khalid Saud Abd Al Rahman Al Bawardi
2003-05-1400071Mish'al Muhammad Rashid Al-Shedocky
  • Released prior to the institution of the Combatant Status Review Tribunals in July 2004.
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[16]
  • In 2014, AQAP indicated in a three-part documentary about the group's former deputy leader Said Ali al-Shihri's life and death that al-Shedocky was dead by having the phrase "May Allah accept him" posted next to his name. The phrase is reserved for jihadists who have been killed in battle. The group did not provide any details on al-Shedocky's death.[17]
2006-06-2400073Yusif Khalil Abdallah Nur
2007-12-2800074Mesh Arsad Al Rashid
  • Repatriated on December 2, 2007, with nine other men.[18]
2007-09-0500079Fahed Al Harazi
2003-05-1400080Fahd Abdallah Ibrahim Al-Shabani
Died in custody00093Yasser Talal Al Zahrani
  • US government withheld body parts needed for independent post mortem.[19][20]
2006-05-1800094Ibrahim Daif Allah Neman Al Sehli
  • Released May 19, 2006.[21]
2006-05-1800095Abdul Rahman Ahmed Uthman
2006-06-2400096Muhammad Surur Dakhilallah Al Utaybi
2006-05-1800105Adnan Muhammed Ali Al Saigh
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[22]
  • Turned himself in to Saudi authorities July 2012[23]
  • author of "The Fight over the Mountains" for Inspire magazine, Summer 2010 issue.[24]
2006-12-1300109Yusef Abdullah Saleh Al Rabiesh
2007-09-0500112Abdul Aziz Saad Al Khaldi
2007-11-0900114Yussef Mohammed Mubarak Al Shihri
  • 14 years old when captured.
  • Killed in a shootout with Saudi security forces along the Saudi border with Yemen in October 2009.[25]
  • When killed, Yousef al Shihri was dressed as a woman[25]
  • Shihri's female garments concealed a suicide explosives belt[25]
2006-12-1300121Salman Saad Al Khadi Mohammed
  • Released with thirteen other men on November 12, 2007.[26]
2007-07-1500122Bijad Thif Allah Al Atabi
2003-05-1400125Fawaz Abd Al Aziz Al Zahrani
  • Repatriated on May 15, 2003, and then convicted of leaving Saudi Arabia without getting prior permission.[27][28]
2007-09-0500126Salam Abdullah Said
2003-05-1400127Ibrahim Rushdan Brayk Al Shili
2007-11-0900130Faha Sultan
2006-06-2400132Abdul Salam Gaithan Mureef Al Shehry
  • 17 years old when captured.[29]
2007-07-1500154Mazin Salih Musaid Al Awfi
  • Repatriated on July 16, 2007, with fifteen other men.[7][8]
2005-07-1900155Khalid Sulaymanjaydh Al Hubayshi
2006/05/1900157Saed Khatem Al Malki
  • Repatriated May 19, 2006.[21]
2007-02-2000158

Majid Abdallah Husayn Muhammad Al Samluli Al Harbi

2007-09-2800172Ali Muhammed Nasir Mohammed
2007-02-2000176Majid Aydha Muhammad Al Qurayshi
2006-05-1800177Fahd Salih Sulayman Al Jutayli
  • Was a minor when captured.[citation needed]
  • Reportedly killed in a shootout between the Yemeni Army and Houthi rebels in 2009[30]
2007-07-1500179Abdul Rahman Owaid Mohammad Al Juaid
  • Repatriated on July 16, 2007, with fifteen other men.[7]
  • Described as having "no ties to militancy whatsoever".[8]
2005-11-0400181Maji Afas Radhi Al Shimri
2007-07-1500182Bandar Ahmad Mubarak Al Jabri
  • Repatriated on July 16, 2007, with fifteen other men.[7][8]
2006-06-2400184Othman Ahmed Othman Al Omairah
  • Following his transfer, reportedly became an operational commander for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula[31]
2007-11-0900185Turki Mash Awi Zayid Al Asiri
  • Allegedly fled from the American aerial bombardment of Afghanistan.
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[32]
2007-02-2000186Rashed Awad Khalaf Balkhair
2007-11-0900187Murtadha Al Said Makram
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[33]
2006-12-1300188Jabir Jubran Al Fayfi
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[16]
2006-06-2400191Saleh Ali Jaid Al Khathami
2006-12-1300192Ibrahimj Sulayman Muhammad Arbaysh
  • Repatriated on December 14, 2006.[27][34]
  • Following Repatriation, reportedly became al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula's chief theologian and ideologue, responsible for justifying terrorism on religious grounds[35]
2016-01-1100195Mohammad Al Rahman Al Shumrani
2007-09-0500196Musa Ali Said Al Said Al Amari
Died in custody00199Abdul Rahman Ma Ath Thafir Al Amri
Held00200Said Muhammad Husayn Qahtani
2007-07-1500204Said Ibrahim Ramzi Al Zahrani
2006-12-1300206Abdullah Muahammed Abdel Aziz
2005-07-1900207Mishal Awad Sayaf Alhabiri
2007-07-1500214Muhammad Abd Al Rahman Al Kurash
2007-11-0900215Fahd Umr Abd Al Majid Al Sharif
2007-12-2800216Jamil Ali Al Kabi
2007-09-0500218Fahd Muhammed Abdullah Al Fouzanin extrajudicial detention in Guantanamo Bay detainment camp because he attended an "Abu Nasir military camp".[36]
2006-12-1300226Anwar Al Nurr
2007-07-1500230Humud Dakhil Humud Sa'id Al-Jad'an
  • Claims he was sold for a bounty.[citation needed]
  • Repatriated on July 16, 2007, with fifteen other men.[7][8]
  • Listed in the DoD's April 2009 recidivism analysis as a "suspected" recidivist.[37]
2007-09-0500231Abdulhadi Abdallah Ibrahim al Sharakh
  • There is no record this captive participated in his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.
  • Included in the DoD's April 2009 analysis as a "suspected" recidivist due to his September 2008 arrest "for association with terrorist members" and "supporting terrorism."[38]
2007-07-1500234Khalid Mohammed Al Zaharni
2015-10-3000239Shaker Aamer
  • Alleges abuse.[39]
  • Mental health at risk.
Held00240Abdullah Yahia Yousf Al Shabli
2007-12-2800243Abdullah Ali Al Utaybi
2006-12-1300245Al Silm Haji Hajjaj Awwad Al Hajjaji
2005-07-1900248Saleh Abdall Al Oshan
2007-11-0900258Nayif Abdallah Ibrahim Ibrahim
2007-07-1500261Juma Mohammed Abdul Latif Al Dosari
  • Allegedly delivered a fiery speech in Buffalo NY that was attended by members of the Lackawanna Six.[40]
  • Says he has been tortured, and has made over a dozen suicide attempts.[citation needed]
  • Joint citizen of both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
2007-11-0900262Abdullah Abd Al Mu'in Al Wafti
2006-06-2400264Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz Al Baddah
2006-06-2400265Tariqe Shallah Hassan Al Harbi
2006-06-2400266Abdallah Muhammad Salih Al Ghanimi
2007-12-2800268Abdul Rahman Nashi Badi Al Hataybi
2006-06-2400271Ibrahim Muhammed Ibrahim Al Nasir
2007-12-2800272Zaid Binsallah Mohammed Il Bhawith
  • Repatriated on December 2, 2007, with nine other men.[18]
2006-12-1300273Abd Al Aziz Muhammad Ibrahim Al Nasir
2007-09-0500274Bader Al Bakri Al Samiri
2006-12-1300286Ziad Said Farg Jahdari
  • Repatriated on December 14, 2006.[27][34]
2005-09-3000287Sami Abdul Aziz Salim Allaithy
2006-05-1800308Adil Uqla Hassan Al Nusayri
  • Claims he was captured by the Taliban, who sold him to bounty hunters, who in turn sold him to the Americans.[citation needed]
  • Repatriated on December 14, 2006.[27][34]
2007-09-0500318Rami Bin Said Al Taibi
2006-05-1800319Mohammed Jayed Sebai
  • Repatriated together with fourteen other men on May 19, 2006.[27]
2007-09-0500322Khalid Hassan Husayn Al Barakat
2010-o9-1600331Ohmed Ahmed Mahamoud Al Shurfa
2007-07-1500332Abdullah Al Tayabi
  • Repatriated on July 16, 2007, with fifteen other men.[7][8]
2007-11-0900333Mohamed Atiq Awayd Al Harbi
  • After transfer from Guantanamo Bay, became a leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)[44]
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[44] He surrendered to Saudi authorities that same month.[45]
2009-06-1200335Kahlid Saad Mohammed
  • Allegedly injured by the American aerial bombardment of Afghanistan, 2001, while distributing humanitarian aid to refugees.[citation needed]
2006-12-1300336Majed Hamad Al Frih
2006-06-2400337Sa ad Ibraham Sa ad Al Bidna
2006-06-2400338Wasim
aka
Wasm Awwad Omar Al-Wasm
2006-05-1800339Khalid Abdallah Abdel Rahman Al Morghi
2006-12-1300340Bessam Muhammed Saleh Al Dubaikey
2006-12-1300341Said Ali Al Farha
2007-09-0500342Mohammed Mubarek Salah Al Qurbi
2006-05-1800343Abdallah Ibrahim Al Rushaydan
2006-06-2400344Rashid Abdul Mosleh Qayed
2006-05-1800346Said Bezan Ashek Shayban
2007-09-0500368Amran Baqur Mohammed Hawsawi
  • Was injured during the American aerial bombardment of Afghanistan, 2001.[citation needed]
2007-07-1500370Abd Al Hizani
2007-11-0900372Sa Id Ali Jabir Al Khathim Al Shihri
  • Was the #2 in al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula[25]
  • Reportedly responsible for the attack on Flight 253 on Christmas Day 2009[25]
  • May have been involved in al-Qieda's attack on the American embassy in Sanaa in September 2008[25]
  • One of 11 former Guantanamo detainees listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's most wanted list in February 2009[25]
  • Killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2013.[47]
2007-12-2800436Nayif Fahd Mutliq Al Usaymi
2007-02-2000437Faizal Saha Al Nasir
2007-11-0900438Hani Saiid Mohammad Al Khalif
2007-12-2800439Khalid Malu Shia Al Ghatani
2017-01-0500440Mohammed Ali Abdullah Bwazir
2007-09-0500493Abdul Hakim Bukhary
  • Passed straight from detention in a Taliban prison to detention in an American prison.[citation needed]
  • A Saudi named Abdel-Hakee Abdel-Karim Ameen Bukhari was repatriated on September 16, 2007.[51]
2006-05-1800501Nawwaf Fahd Humood Al-Otaibi
  • Repatriated together with fourteen other men on May 19, 2006.[27]
2006-05-1800505Khalid Rashd Ali Al Muri
2006-12-1300507Sultan Sari Sayel Al Anazi
2006-12-1300513Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hussein Khowlanpp
2007-09-0500514Abdallah Faris Al Unazi Thani
2007-07-1500516Ghanim Abdul Rahman Al Harbi
  • Repatriated to Saudi custody, with fifteen other men, on July 16, 2007.[7][8]
2007-02-2000536Mohamed Abdullah Al Harbi
  • Released with thirteen other men on November 12, 2007.[26]
Held00553Abdul Khaled Ahmed Sahleh Al Bedani
2007-12-2800565Abdul Hakim Abdul Rahman Abdulaziz Al Mousa
Held00566Mansoor Muhammed Ali Qattaa
2007-07-1600570Sabri Mohammed Ebrahim Al Qurashi
Held00572Slah Muhamed Salih Al Zabe
2003-05-1400585Ibrahim Umar Ali Al Umar
Died in custody00588Mana Shaman Allabardi Al Tabi
  • Seventeen years old when captured.
  • Was on a hunger strike for over nine months, before his death was reported on June 10, 2006.[citation needed]
2007-09-0500647Zaban Thaaher Zaban Al Shamaree
2007-11-0900650Jabir Hasan Muhamed Al Qahtani
2006-05-1800652Abdullah Hamid Al Qahtani
  • Repatriated together with fourteen other men on May 19, 2006.[27]
2006-05-1800664Rashid Awad Rashid Al Uwaydah
  • Repatriated together with fourteen other men on May 19, 2006.[27]
2009-06-1200669Ahmed Zaid Salim Zuhair
  • Repatriated on June 12, 2009, with two other men.[52]
Held00682Ghassan Abdallah Ghazi Al Shirbi
2009-06-1200687Abdalaziz Kareem Salim Al Noofayaee
  • Repatriated on June 12, 2009, with two other men.[52]
2017-01-1800696Jabran Said Wazar Al Qahtani
2014-11-2200713Muhammed Murdi Issa Al Zahrani
2018-05-0200768Ahmed Muhammed Haza Al Darbi
Held00893Tolfiq Nassar Ahmed Al Bihani
Held01456Hassan Mohammed Salih Bin Attash
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Saudi rehabilitation

A July 26, 2007, article from Asharq Alawsat described the Care Rehabilitation Center repatriated detainees are held in until they are finally released.[62] According to the article the detainees received special meals, had access to satellite TV, and were able to get day passes.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the facility on November 2, 2008, and spoke with several former Guantanamo detainees.[63][64][65]

References

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