Obaidullah (detainee) - First Annual Administrative Review Board Hearing

First Annual Administrative Review Board Hearing

The Following Factors Favor Continued Detention

a. Commitment

1. The detainee attended a Madrassa in Dusarakuh, Afghanistan where he practiced militant Islam and was recruited by al Qaida.
2. During the time of the Taliban rule, the detainee helped coordinate the movement and activities of various foreign al Qaida operating in the Khowst area.
3. After the beginning of the Allied Forces Campaign against al Qaida and the Taliban, the detainee used his compound to hide and relocate about 18 Arab al Qaida member to Pakistan. Subsequent to the Shahi Kot Campaign, the detainee hid six additional al Qaida Arab members in his house.
4. One month after the conclusion of the Shahi Kot fighting, the detainee received orders to prepare command-detonated mines to use against United States forces in Khowst area.
5. The detainee placed two Soviet anti-tank mines on the road between Khowst and Miram Shah, Pakistan. He eventually removed the mines, because no United States forces passed by the road and a rain shower washed away the dirt that was covering the mines.
6. The detainee continued to experiment in order to devise a means to detonate the mines. In mid-July 2002, the detainee had at least 18 anti-tank mines hidden in his compound.
7. The detainee was either given a vehicle or received funds to buy a vehicle that he used to scout a position from which he could attempt another mine attack.
8. The detainee received cash and additional explosives at his home and traveled to Peshawar, Pakistan to receive instructions or carry messages between Arab al Qaida and their Afghan subordinates still in Khowst Province.
9. The detainee was captured with over 20 anti-tank mines in his home and was personally carrying a notebook containing electronic and explosives schematics.

b. Training

1. The detainee attended a mechanical high school in Khowst City, Afghanistan. Subjects relating to tanks, mines and weapons were taught by the Taliban at the school. He attended the mine course, which covered the basics regarding Russian mines, approximately one month prior to 11 Sep 2001.

c. Connections/Associations

1. The detainee joined Jama’at al-Tabligh in approximately 2000.
2. The Jama’at al-Tabligh is a legitimate Islamic Missionary organization based in Pakistan and is believed to be used as a cover for action by Islamic extremists.
3. The detainee said Karim was a member of the Jama’at al-Tabligh and a shopkeeper who he partnered with in business. The detainee became indebted to Karim after losing 50,000 Rupees. In return for the debt, Karim asked him to store some land mines at his home.
4. Bostan Qadeem, also known as Karim, is a suspected al Qaida cell leader and bomb maker. He and another man were detained. The two did not have identity papers. In their possession they had a Thuraya satellite telephone, $2,700 USD, 3,600 Pakistani Rupees and 70,000 Afghan Rupees.
5. Three days before the detainee’s arrest, Karim drew some schematics on how to detonate the mines in a notebook that the detainee kept under his mattress.
6. The detainee said that Karim told him the purpose of the land mines was to kill people that Karim did not like.
7. Karim asked the detainee to take a truck full of wood, lumber and a bomb to Kabul, Afghanistan for the purpose of driving it close to where the Americans are.
8. The detainee says that Karim is thought to be a Taliban commander who was getting funding from the Taliban or the Arabs.

d. Other Relevant Data

1. The detainee was arrested during a raid on Miland Village, Ismail Khiel District, Khowst Province, Afghanistan.
2. The detainee was captured on 20 July 2002.
3. The detainee says that he never would have placed or detonated the mines that Karim had given him. He only promised to help Karim because he had been promised money, and he needed money to help support his family.

The Following Primary Factors Favor Release Of Transfer

a. The detainee never saw Jama’at al-Tabligh members who were associated with al Qaida or who were recruited on behalf of al Qaida.

b. The detainee stated he never attended training camps related to Jama’at al-Tabligh, jihadist or the military.

c. The detainee denied having any knowledge of the attacks in the United States prior to September 11th, and he also denies knowledge of any rumors or plans of future attacks on the United States or its interests.

d. The detainee claims not to have had any knowledge of or affiliations with al Qaida or Taliban forces. He says he made a mistake and regrets his actions.