CASE DISMISSED, HOLIDAY FURLOUGH FOR GTMO RETURNEE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001113 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, S/GC FOR SASAHARA CENTCOM FOR PETRAEUS AND CCJ2 E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2024 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR KDRG KU SUBJECT: CASE DISMISSED, HOLIDAY FURLOUGH FOR GTMO RETURNEE REF: A. KUWAIT 1070 ¶B. KUWAIT 1018 Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and d Charges Dismissed Against Al-Mutayri -------------- ¶1. (U) MFA's Follow-Up and Coordination's desk officer Abdullah Al-Shirrah confirmed to POLOFF November 24 that Kuwait's Public Prosecutor had dismissed all charges the previous day against former GTMO detainee Khaled Al-Mutayri, who returned to Kuwait October 9. The story has also appeared in the local press. According to Al-Shirrah, the Office of the Public Prosecutor ordered Al-Mutayri's release after assessing that there was insufficient evidence to proceed to trial on the claim that he had engaged in activities which would harm Kuwait's relations with a friendly country. (Note: Each of the previous Kuwaiti GTMO returnees similarly had all charges dismissed for lack of compelling evidence. End note.) Holiday Furlough -------------- ¶2. (U) Al-Shirrah stated that Al-Mutayri was furloughed from his confinement at the Al-Salam Rehabilitation Center to spend the Eid Al-Adha holiday with family and friends. Per reftels, the GOK has stated its intent to include interaction with family and friends as a vital component in rehabilitating and monitoring the GTMO detainees. According to Al-Shirah, the two-week furlough with family to celebrate this Islamic festival is viewed by Al-Salam Center board members as key to assimilating Al-Mutayri back into Kuwaiti society. Al-Shirah said that Al-Mutayri would continue his treatment at the Center subsequent to his furlough. Outpatient Rehabilitation? -------------- ¶3. (C) Dr. Adnan Al-Shatti, psychologist and one of the Al-Salam Center board members who interviewed Al-Mutayri at GTMO and returned with him to Kuwait, told POLOFF emphatically on November 24 that though the court had dismissed criminal charges levied against Al-Mutayri, the center has the authority and will to continue confinement for the next 3-6 months. Although Al-Mutayri was released November 23, Al-Shatti confirmed, he is not "scot free." Al-Mutayri was released on the recognizance of his brother Thamer, who is responsible for his behavior and for his continued assimilation into society while away from the center. During this time, Al-Shatti and other board members will be in phone contact and will conduct or host visits with Al-Mutayri. (Note: Though Al-Shatti conveyed to POLOFF that the center has the right to enforce confinement for a determined period of time, it is believed to be in Al-Mutayri's interest to involve him in the process. Should there be a public or private effort to secure Al-Mutayri's complete freedom, Al-Shatti assured POLOFF that the center would take administrative or medical measures to "delay the processes of his release." End note.) ¶4. (C) Al-Shatti, in regular contact with Al-Mutayri, relayed the following details on the rehabilitation: -- Al-Mutayri, along with his family, is cooperating fully and understands that it is to his advantage -- and that of the remaining three Kuwaiti GTMO detainees -- to "voluntarily" stay with his prescribed treatment plan. -- Al-Mutayri is in no hurry to rejoin society, and appears content to slowly assimilate, starting with small doses of time with family. He appears to respond well to trust-building measures taken by the center's staff. Al-Shatti believes that it is too soon to talk about Al-Mutayri's time in Pakistan or GTMO, or even about Islam, choosing instead to postpone delving into discussions that might prompt Al-Mutayri to become defensive or ashamed. He shows no desire to depart the center permanently while he sorts the appropriate responses to the inevitable questions about his time in GTMO. -- "He is a simple person." Al-Shatti is convinced that Al-Mutayri, with only an 8th grade education, harbors no grand schemes or violent tendencies. He appears to enjoy learning basic computer science courses at the center. KUWAIT 00001113 002 OF 002 -- "He poses no threat." Echoing reftel comments made by psychiatrist Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghuloum, Al-Shatti believes "100%" that Al-Mutayri is harmless. He is of the view that Al-Mutayri requires continued confinement, not for security, but to ensure a successful assimilation. ¶5. (S/NF) GRPO will be following up with liaison to determine the nature of any plans to maintain physical or electronic surveillance of Al-Mutayri during his furlough. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES