STATUS OF REPATRIATED NLEC SAMI EL-LAITHY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 008143

SIPDIS

FOR S/WCI, L/PM, AND NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2015
TAGS: PTER PHUM EG KWRC
SUBJECT: STATUS OF REPATRIATED NLEC SAMI EL-LAITHY

Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Guantanamo detainee Sami El-Laithy, returned by the
U.S. to Egypt on October 1 after being designated "No Longer
an Enemy Combatant," was met by Egyptian authorities at the
airport and taken to hospital. Within 24 hours, following a
set of medical tests, El-Laithy was released and returned to
reside with his family in the Nile Delta province of
Sharqiya. Although the GOE is not likely to prosecute him
and does not consider him a security risk, he remains under
surveillance.


2. (SBU) El-Laithy has made numerous media appearances since
his return. Appearing on October 4 on two of Egypt's
most-watched evening talk shows, El-Laithy alleged that he
was subjected to repeated physical and mental torture while
detained at Guantanamo. El-Laithy, a paraplegic, even
claimed that his paralysis was caused by beatings
administered by his USG captors. El-Laithy told Reuters in
an interview published October 21 that he had been well
treated since his return to Egypt.


3. (SBU) The Embassy will advise the Department of any
changes in El-Laithy's status.


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