Defense Department Takes Custody of High-Value al Qaida Detainee

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it has custody of Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-level member of al-Qaida captured in the War on Terror and placed him under control of the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Prior to his arrival at Guantanamo Bay, he was held in CIA custody.

Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani was a close associate of Usama bin Ladin and had ties to al-Qaida organizations throughout the Middle East. He became one of bin Ladin's most trusted facilitators and procurement specialists prior to his detention.

Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani is now under DoD custody and control and will be treated appropriately and in accordance with policy and procedures for other DoD detainees at Guantanamo. He will be treated in accordance with U.S. law and international obligations under treaties to include the Convention Against Torture, Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, the Detainee Treatment Act, the Military Commissions Act, and applicable Department of Defense directives and instructions governing detainee operations.

Just like previous detainees who have arrived at Guantanamo, he will undergo a period of in-processing to help him adjust to detention rules and procedures. He will be given an internment serial number and will undergo a combatant status review tribunal. The International Committee of the Red Cross will be granted access to this detainee.

As a result of this latest transfer, there are now approximately 280 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

(From a U.S. Department of Defense press release.)

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