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Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hussein Khowlan is a citizen of Saudi Arabia who was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.[1] His Guantanamo Internment Serial Number was 513. American intelligence analysts estimate he was born in 1972, in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hussein Khowlan was captured in Afghanistan in 2001 and transferred to Saudi Arabia on December 13, 2006.[2]

In October 2007 Andrew Selsky, writing for the Associated Press reported on "inconsistencies" in the OARDEC review of captives' status, and characterized Abdul Rahman Khowlan's review as a "murkier" one.[3]

Capture[]

He was captured carrying an AK-47 rifle.[4]

Combatant Status Review[]

Main article: Combatant Status Review Tribunal

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for his tribunal. The memo accused him of the following:[5]

a. The detainee is associated with al Qaida and the Taliban:
  1. Detainee traveled to Afghanistan to participate in the Jihad to fulfill his religious duty.
  2. Detainee traveled from Pakistan into Afghanistan in August 2001.
  3. Detainee saw Usama Bin Laden at the Al-Ansar safe house and Al Farouq training camp.
  4. Detainee attended basic training at Al Farouq in late summer of 2001.
b. The detainee participated in military operations against United States and its coalition partners.
  1. Detainee fought the Northern Alliance in Dostun, Afghanistan.
  2. Detainee was present in the Tora Bora region during the U.S. air campaign, and surrendered there.


Administrative Review Board[]

Detainees whose Combatant Status Review Tribunal labeled them "enemy combatants" were scheduled for annual Administrative Review Board hearings. These hearings were designed to assess the threat a detainee may pose if released or transferred, and whether there are other factors that warrant his continued detention.[6]

First annual Administrative Review Board[]

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hussein Khowlan's first annual Administrative Review Board, on 28 June 2005.[7] The memo listed factors for and against his continued detention.

The following primary factors favor continued detention

a. Commitment
  1. The detainee saw and responded to posted announcements in mosques that declared a fatwa supporting training for Jihad as a religious duty.
  2. The detainee was recruited in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by Abu Mua'th, who gave the detainee an airline ticket to Karachi, Pakistan, 3000 Saudi Riyals ($799 USD) and a passport.
  3. In August 2001, the detainee traveled from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Qatar to Karachi, Pakistan to Khandahar, Afghanistan.
  4. The detainee stayed at a safe house in Jalalabad for approximately three to four months.
  5. The detainee stayed at the Al-Ansar house in Kandahar to await training at Camp al Farouq.
  6. The detainee was fighting Afghan people and the Northern Alliance while at Camp Farouq.
  7. The detainee stayed at the Abu Mahajin or "Star of the Jihad" guest house in Jalalabad for approximately four to five weeks while waiting to flee Afghanistan in October or November 2001.
b. Training
  1. The detainee attended basic training at the al Farouq training camp for approximately two months in late summer of 2001.
  2. The detainee received training on the AK-47 assault rifle, PK machine gun, automatic grenade launcher, the Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) and an unidentified light anti-tank weapon.
c. Connections/Associations
  1. The detainee traveled to Quetta, Pakistan, where he met an Afghan man known as Muhammad Rahim, also know as Rakhim Khan. Muhammad Rahim took the detainee to a Quetta safe house.
  2. Muhammad Rahim is an al Qaida leader who was attempting to reestablish al Qaida networks in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan, where he already controlled hidden ammunition depots. He was also trying to recruit individuals to carry out terror attacks against the Jalalabad airport and Springhar Hotel in Jalalabad.
  3. The detainee saw Usama Bin Ladin at the Al Ansar safe house and al Farouq Training Camp.
d. Other Relevant Data
  1. The detainee was present in the Tora Bora region and surrendered there to Afghan Forces.
  2. The detainee had in his possession, at the time of his surrender, $2,000 USD, a Kalashnikov rifle and three full magazines of ammunition.


The following primary factors favor release or transfer

a. The detainee claims he was responding to a fatwa that requires all Muslims to train and be prepared to defend Islam at any time. He intended to return home after learning of the attacks of September 11, 2001.
b. The detainee states that he does not have any association with al Qaida and never heard anything about al Qaida at Camp Farouq until after the war started.
c. The detainee states that his initial report of training at al Farouq was just telling the interrogators what they wanted to hear, and the truth is he was attempting to retrieve the clothing of the Prophet Mohammed from a shrine in Afghanistan with financial backing from a prominent Saudi Arabian businessman.
d. The detainee denies taking the al Qaida oath while at Camp Farouq.
e. The detainee denies having any knowledge of the attacks in the U.S. prior to their execution on September 11, 2001. The detainee also denied knowledge of any rumors or plans of future attacks on the U.S. or U.S. interests.


Transcript[]

Khowlan participated in his Administrative Review Board hearing.[8] In response to a court order the Department of Defense published fifteen page summarized transcript from Khowlan's Administrative Review Board hearing.

Second annual Administrative Review Board[]

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Abd Al Rahman Muhammad Husayn Al Khawlan's second annual Administrative Review Board, on 2 May 2006.[9] The memo listed factors for and against his continued detention.

The following primary factors favor continued detention

a. Commitment
  1. The detainee's desire to go to Afghanistan was based on the posted fatwa, his decision to marry, his desire to lose weight, and his subsequent meeting with an individual.
  2. The individual told the detainee that he would arrange for him to travel and requested his passport, which the detainee provided. The detainee stated his passport was returned with a paid airline ticket to Khandahar, Afghansitan.
  3. The detainee advised that he received 3,000 Saudi Ryals (799 United States Dollars) for personal expenses.
  4. The detainee stated in August 2001 he flew from Jeddah to Qatar to Karachi, Pakistan to Khandahar, Afghanistan.
b. Training
  1. The detainee stated while at Camp Farouq they were issued a pen and notebook, woodland camouflage uniform, a blanket, and shoes. The detainee trained on the Kalashnikov assault rifle, PK machine gun, automatic grenade launcher, the rocket-propelled grenade, and an unidentified light anti-tank weapon.
  2. The detainee said his training at Camp Farouq was interrupted, so he never finished his training. The detainee said they were told they should leave the camp.
c. Connections/Associations
  1. The detainee met a person, a Saudi in his early 30s. This person sold dates outside a mosque the detainee attended. The detainee stated over time they talked periodically after Friday prayer.
  2. The detainee traveled from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia through Qatar to Karachi, Pakistan.
  3. The detainee stated upon his arrival in Karachi he checked into a room at a hotel and waited to receive further information.
  4. The detainee stated that he was taken to a safe house in Karachi where he stayed for a week. The detainee then traveled to Quetta, Pakistan.
  5. Upon arrival in Quetta, Pakistan the detainee was taken to a safe house where he stayed for a period of less than a week.
  6. The detainee claims that while in Afghanistan he saw Usama bin Laden at the al Ansar house in Kandahar, Afghanistan and at the al Farouq camp.
d. Detainee Actions and Statements
  1. While at Camp Farouq, the detainee ended up fighting Afghans and Northern Alliance troops in DOstun.
  2. The detainee stayed at the Najim al Jihad safe house for approximately three to four months. He then went to a forest near Jalalabad for and a half weeks, then to Tora Bora until 10 December.
  3. The detainee was sent to Tora Bora where he subsequently surrendered to Afghan Forces.
e. Other Relevant Data
  1. At the time of his capture, the detainee had in his possession, currency in the amount of 2,000 United States Dollars, a Kalashnikov rifle, and three full magazines of ammunition.
  2. During a 17 March 2005 interview the detainee stated America was his enemy because they are infidels and puppets of the Jews.


The following primary factors favor release or transfer

a. The detainee went to Afghanistan for a couple of reasons. His first priority was to lose weight. He would receive good exercise, which would help him lose weight. His intention was to get training for two months, then return to Saudi Arabia, take over his father's business, and get married. He would also learn to maintain a weapon.
b. The detainee stated he had lied in the past about his travels to Afghanistan. The detainee said he was working with an unidentified Saudi Arabian businessman in a joint venture to find the clothing of the Prophet Mohammed, which was rumored to be in Afghanistan. The detainee said he was given a large sum of money by the businessman and traveled by airplane to Karachi Pakistan.
c. The detainee said he has a brain and is not stupid and would not take an al Qaida oath. He said he does not have any association with al Qaida. The detainee said that he never hear anything about al Qaida at Camp Farouq until after the war started.
d. The detainee denies having any knowledge of the attacks in the U.S. prior to their execution on 11 September 2001. The detainee also denied knowledge of any rumors or plans of future attacks on the U.S. or U.S. interests.
e. The detainee claims he was responding to a fatwa that required all Muslims to train and be prepared to defend Islam at any time. He intended to return home after learning of the attacks of 11 September 2001.
f. The detainee states that he would like to return to Saudi Arabia to get married, start a family, and take over his father's business, a small store. The detainee said he would never fight or leave Saudi Arabia again.


Repatriation[]

According to The Saudi Repatriates Report Khowlan is one of sixteen men repatriated on December 14, 2006.[10]

References[]

  1. OARDEC (May 15, 2006). "List of Individuals Detained by the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from January 2002 through May 15, 2006". United States Department of Defense. http://www.dod.mil/news/May2006/d20060515%20List.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-29. 
  2. ' [1] The New York Times
  3. Files raise questions on Gitmo decisions [2] Andrew Selsky 2007-10-03
  4. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071003/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/guantanamo_the_way_out[dead link]
  5. OARDEC (28 September 2004). "Summary of Evidence for Combatant Status Review Tribunal -- Khowlan, Abdul Rahman Mohammed". United States Department of Defense. pp. page 40. http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/000400-000499.pdf#40. Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  6. "Annual Administrative Review Boards for Enemy Combatants Held at Guantanamo Attributable to Senior Defense Officials". March 6, 2007. http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=3902. Retrieved November 12, 2010. 
  7. OARDEC (28 June 2005). "Unclassified Summary of Evidence for Administrative Review Board in the case of Khowlan, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hussein". United States Department of Defense. pp. pages 74–76. http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/ARB_Round_1_Factors_000394-000494.pdf#74. Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  8. OARDEC (date redacted). "Summary of Administrative Review Board Proceedings of ISN 513". United States Department of Defense. pp. pages 29–43. http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/ARB_Transcript_Set_7_20497-20750.pdf#29. Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  9. OARDEC (2 May 2006). "Unclassified Summary of Evidence for Administrative Review Board in the case of Al Khawlan, Abd Al Rahman Muhammad Husayn". United States Department of Defense. pp. pages 4–6. http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/detainees/csrt_arb/ARB_Round_2_Factors_599-699.pdf#4. Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
  10. Anant Raut, Jill M. Friedman (March 19, 2007). "The Saudi Repatriates Report". http://www.fotofest.org/guantanamo/SaudiReport.pdf. Retrieved April 21, 2007. 


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