DETAINEE LUFTI BIN SWEI LAGHA HAS NOT COMPLAINED

S E C R E T TUNIS 001007

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA: GCRETZ, NEA/MAG (SWILLIAMS MNARDI,
VSTEWART),DRL: KMCGEENEY, S/WCI: ARICCI
DOD/OSD:ALIOTTA, DOJ/ODAG:MSTRANSKY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2028
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM KDRG TS
SUBJECT: DETAINEE LUFTI BIN SWEI LAGHA HAS NOT COMPLAINED
OF MISTREATMENT

REF: A. STATE 91304 AND PREVIOUS

B. TUNIS 992

C. TUNIS 973

D. TUNIS 193

E. TUNIS 042

F. 07 TUNIS 1483

G. 07 TUNIS 1060

H. 07 TUNIS 967

I. 07 TUNIS 964

Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Mabruk Lagha, the older brother of former
Guantanamo detainee Lufti Ben Swei reported that he sees his
brother about 3-4 times per month and gives him food and
clothing. He did not report any mistreatment. Lutfi says
his health is fine but Mabruk personally worries about his
brother's health. Lufti thinks he will remain in prison
until the USG tells the GOT to release him. His lawyer
intends to request access. End Summary.

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Brother Visits Regularly
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2. (C) PolOff met with Lufti Bin Swei's (Guantanamo detainee
returned to Tunisia in 2007) older brother Mabruk Lagha
September 8 to discuss Lutfi's condition and terms of
treatment in prison. Mabruk said he sees his brother about
once a week and brings him food and sometimes clothing. The
rest of Lufti's siblings and his parents live in the south of
Tunis so Mabruk is the only one who sees him regularly.
Mabruk travels an hour by bus and often has to wait three or
four hours once he arrives at the prison before he sees his
brother. He said he most recently visited Lufti September 5
and for the first time was allowed to see him for about 45
minutes. Usually he is only permitted to see him for 20-30
minutes. He credits the fact that he informed the prison
officials that he would be meeting with someone from the US
embassy this week for the longer visitation period. He said
their conversations are recorded. Lufti is kept in a 9 foot
by 9 foot cell and has other prisoners in the cell with him.
It was not clear if he has more than one cellmate at a time.
The cellmate changes frequently and Lufti is convinced that
the authorities are putting informers in his cell.



3. (S) Mabruk said Lufti has not complained about his
health, however he thinks that Lufti does not look well. He
also noted that Lufti lost several of his fingers and some of
his toes (after suffering frostbite in the mountains of
Afghanistan and Pakistan). Lufti told Mabruk that more of
his fingers were removed in Guantanamo, possibly due to lack
of proper treatment.

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Sentence
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4. (S) Mabruk reported that his brother believes he will
stay in prison until the USG tells the GOT to release him.
Lufti claimed he was informed by USG personnel before he
arrived in Tunisia that he would be sentenced to three years
in prison. When he heard his sentence in the Tunisian court
and it was the predicted length he decided that the USG had
told the GOT how long to detain him.

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Attorney to Request Visit
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5. (S) Lufti's lawyer Samir Amour was present during part of
this meeting. Samir said he has not visited Lufti since his
sentencing nor has he formally asked to visit him, believing
the request would be denied. However, he plans to make a
formal request soon.




DESJARDINS