RELEASE OF FINAL BAHRAINI GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000782 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM BA SUBJECT: RELEASE OF FINAL BAHRAINI GUANTANAMO DETAINEE REF: A. COMUSNAVCENT 082057Z AUG 2007 ¶B. MANAMA 744 ¶C. STATE 104677 ¶D. MANAMA 626 ¶E. 05 MANAMA 1578 ¶F. 05 MANAMA 1088 ¶G. 05 STATE 134600 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Christopher Henzel for reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following the GOB,s reiteration of its commitment to its prior assurances concerning security, humane treatment, and post-release access (ref A),the U.S. military released detainee Ali Al-Murbati into the custody of Interior Ministry officials on the evening of August 8. The transfer took place at Bahrain International Airport in Manama in the presence of Defense Attache. Bahraini authorities debriefed Al-Murbati for about three hours, then returned him to his home in Isa Town, just south of the capital. ¶2. (U) Immediate reaction to Al-Murbati,s release was subdued, with most of the press focus on remarks by Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa crediting the efforts of the GOB, the US Embassy, and Ambassador Monroe with bringing about his return. Meanwhile, liberal and Salafi MPs and activists tried to claim credit for the release and took shots at the GOB and USG for not freeing Al-Murbati sooner. Several Salafi commentators called for the GOB to compensate Al-Murbati for his time in Guantanamo, and for all of Bahrain,s former Guantanamo detainees to file lawsuits against the USG and individual guards for alleged mistreatment during their detention. For his part, Al-Murbati is telling the media, at least for now, that he has no intention of suing anyone. ¶3. (C) Interior Minister told Charge August 9 that he had personally urged the former detainees to maintain a low profile. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL