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. RICCIARDONE