Accused of returning to terrorism, former Gitmo detainee a respected Afghan politician

Raw Story
Thursday, July 9, 2009

A former Guantanamo Bay detainee who was named by the Pentagon as one of 74 former captives who returned to terrorism after being released has done no such thing.

Instead, he has returned to doing what he was really doing before being picked up by US forces and shuttled off to Gitmo for six years: Working as a politician, a tribal elder representing Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

So says a new report from McClatchy Newspapers, which profiles Haji Sahib Rohullah Wakil, a tribal elder who regularly meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other government officials on behalf of the people of Kunar province.

In May, an unreleased Pentagon document was leaked to the press, alleging that one in seven released Gitmo detainees — fully 74 individuals — had returned to terrorism once freed.

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And while the veracity of that claim was questioned, the leaked Pentagon document was still considered important in changing the Washington establishment’s mind about President Obama’s plan to shut down the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Shortly after the report made it to the press, Congressional Democrats voted to oppose funding, requested by President Obama, to shut down Guantanamo Bay.

Now, with the apparent confirmation that at least one of the people accused of terrorist recidivism is actually a respected Afghan government official, questions will likely arise about the accuracy of that Pentagon report, as well as the motivations behind its being released to the press.

GITMO CAPTIVE WANTS TO STAY

Sometimes being trapped in a stateless prison with no hope for a fair trial is, well, better than the alternative.

Or at least so says Umar Abdulayev, a Tajik national who was brought to Guantanamo Bay in the earliest days of the camp’s existence.

According to the Miami Herald, Abdulayev fears what the government of Tajikistan would do to him so much that he is fighting the US government’s plan to release him and send him home.

Abdulayev’s lawyer says the Gitmo detainee once refused a demand from Tajikistan’s security services to spy on Muslim radicals in the country. As a result, he believes he is persona non grata in his homeland, and that, coupled with the stigma of having been a Gitmo prisoner, means he is at risk of torture, or worse.

Abdulayev’s lawyer says he is open to the possibility of taking asylum in a third country.

– Daniel Tencer

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7 Responses to “Accused of returning to terrorism, former Gitmo detainee a respected Afghan politician”

1. mike Says:
   July 9th, 2009 at 5:05 am

   Don’t believe one gd thing that is uttered from the DISTRICT OF CRIMINALITY…NUTIN

2. truth911 Says:
   July 9th, 2009 at 7:09 am

   useless criminals overpaid over insured over vacationed whats their purpose? they have to all be criminals look what they are doing to america destroyed it someone is gona have to pay sooner or later!!! why are the jews the only one s that got their money back? the indians did not get their land back

3. president christian Says:
   July 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am

   Should have executed every one of them with out trial. Any muslim should be detained and if found they are truly muslim, then execute them for affiliation with Islam.

   

   mn Reply:
   July 9th, 2009 at 8:23 am

   That is the sickest,most hateful statement I thik ive ever heard You should be ashamed but based on such an ignorant statement I doubt you are capable of that emotion. YOu brainwashed piece of shit, this guy like many was innocent. Islam is no worse or better than any other religion. Turn off Fox News you fucking retarded hick.

   

   Ilse Reply:
   July 10th, 2009 at 1:10 am

   My words exactly, mn. Statements like christian’s really make me sad and angry.

4. Ray Says:
   July 9th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

   There you have it… politiciens are in fact the real terrorists.

5. truth911 Says:
   July 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am

   hey raw story, remind you of somebody like our criminal government! do no time ! only a few scape goats in this heard