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GUANTANAMO DETAINEE PROFILEDetainee ISN: EG - 535

DetaineeISN: EG -535

Detainee Name: Tariq MahmudAhmad Muhammadal Sawah

Abu alLaith alMasri; Abu alLayth alMasrialSawwah; Abu Hassan ; Abu Laif elMasri;Abu al Masri; Abu Laith el Abu Laith al Masri; Abu Tariq al Masri; Abu Tariq alMassri; al Laith; Albany Taher; Albany Tahera; Ilyas; Tarek el Savah; Tarek el Sawah;

DetaineeAliases: Tarek MahamoudAhmad el Sawah; Tarek Mahmoud Ahmed Mohamedel Sawah; Tarek

Mahmoudel Sawah; Tarik el Sawh; Tariq al Bisnawi; Tariqal Bosnawi; Tariqel Masri;

TariqMahmoodAhmad; Tariq MahmoodAhmedal Sawah; Tariq MahmoudAhmedalSawah; Tariq Mahmud Ahmad alSawah

Nationality: Egyptian

Date of Birth : November 1957

Arrivalat Guantanamo 2002

Tariq Mahmud Ahmad Muhammadal Sawah (EG-535) was an al-Qa'ida explosives expert who probably

designed the devicesal- used to attack US targets. Duringthe 1990s, he worked for non -governmentalorganizations linked to terrorismand thenjoined the Bosnian Army where he received weapons and explosivestraining. He traveled to Afghanistansometimein 2000 to join al- and the Talibanand to attend trainingcamps affiliated with al-Qa'ida. EG-535 while inAfghanistan became an explosives instructor for al- andfought against the NorthernAlliance and USForces.He met numeroussenior terrorist leaders, but there are noindications he held a leadershipposition.

EG-535 during the first two years of his detentionwas hostile to the guard force. While EG-535 openly admits

to havingtaken part in terrorism , there are no indications that he is interestedin reengaginginextremistactivity.He has told interrogators that he hopes to reunite with family members — some ofwhom live inEgypt, Bosnia,and the US

There are no indications that EG-535 is in communication with extremists outside of Guantanamo.

IfEG-535 were repatriated to Egypt, he probably would seek to reside temporarily with family members while

pursuing opportunities to resettle elsewhere. EG-535 seems unlikely to pursue reengagement but he would becapable of reengaging as an explosives expert or trainer . He retains extensive knowledge of explosives

compounds and techniques.

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PERIODIC REVIEW BOARD, January 22, 2015

Tariq MahmoudAhmedAl Sawah- ISN 535

OPENING STATEMENTOF PERSONALREPRESENTATIVE

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the board, we are the Personal Representatives for Mr.

Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed Al Sawah . We are joined by the Private Counsel for Tariq and his translator . We

have met with Tariq for approximately 50 hours over the past four months and he is eager to participate

in the Periodic Review Board process . Tariq is here, ready and willing to address any questions or

concerns you may have.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Pending your questions, I will be

followed by Private Counsel .

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CA: This periodic review board is being conducted at 0915 hours

on 22 January 2015, at the Periodic Review Secretariat Headquarters,

with regard to the following detainee Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed Al Sawah,

ISN 535 .

As a reminder , the unclassified portions of these

proceedings are being recorded for the purpose of generating a

transcript to be posted on the PRS website .

Representatives from the following agencies are present and

are members of the Board:

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DEPARTMENTOF STATE ;

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ;

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

OFFICE OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

The following personnel are also present :

LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

CASE ADMINISTRATORS

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PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES

PRIVATE COUNSEL

TWO TRANSLATORS

THE DETAINEE AND

A SECURITY OFFICER .

The detainee's personal representatives, private counsel,

the detainee, and one translatorare locatedat the detention

facility , U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . They are

attending via video teleconference. This session is being observed

by foreign , national and local media ; foreign government officials

and representatives from non- governmental organizations.

PM : This board is called to order. This board is convened to

determine whether continued law of war detention is warranted for

Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed Al Sawah, ISN 535 , in order to protect against a

continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.

This periodic review board hearing session is unclassified .

Classified documents and classified discussions related to classified

information shall not be presented or discussed during the

unclassified session of this hearing.

Tariq, this is your periodic review board to determine

whether continued law of war detention is warranted in your case.

Your continued law of war detentionwill be warrantedif such

detention is necessary to protect against a continuing significant

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threat to the national security of the United States.

The focus of this hearing is on the threat you may pose to

the United States and its interests if transferred or released from

custody, and not on the lawfulness of your detention.

The personal representativesand private counsel are your

representatives to assist you during this process .

Finally , the translators ensure that everyone understands

your statements and that you understand what is being said here

during the hearing.

Personal representativesand private counsels, has the

detainee had an opportunity to review the UnclassifiedSummary ?

PR 1 : Yes , ma'am.

PM : I will now read the Unclassified Summary :

Tariq Mahmud Ahmad Muhammad Al Sawah , ISN 535 , was an al

Qa'ida explosive expert who probably designed the devices al- Qa'ida

used to attack targets . During the 1990s , he worked for non

governmental organizations linked to terrorism and then joined the

Bosnian Army where he received weapons and explosive training.

He traveled to Afghanistan sometime in 2000 to join al

and the Taliban and to attend training camps affiliated with

al- Qa'ida EG- 535 while in Afghanistan became an explosives

instructor for al- Qa'ida and fought against the Northern Alliance and

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U.S. Forces. He met numerous senior terrorist leaders, but there are

no indications he held a leadership position .

EG- 535 during the first two years of his detention was

hostile to the guard force . While EG- 535 openly admits to having

taken part in terrorism , there are no indications that he is

interested in reengaging in extremist activity . He has told

interrogators that he hopes to reunite with family members some of

whom who live in Egypt , Bosnia , and the

There are no indications that EG- 535 is in communication

with extremists outside of Guantanamo.

If EG- 535 were repatriated to Egypt , he probably would

seek to reside temporarily with family members while pursuing

opportunities to resettle elsewhere. EG- 535 seems unlikely to pursue

reengagement but he would be capable of reengaging as an explosive

expert or trainer. He retains extensive knowledge of explosive

compounds and techniques.

Do the personal representatives and private counsel wish to

make unclassifiedopening statements at this time ?

PR 1 : Yes , ma'am.

PM : I would like to remind all participants that any

information shared at this time must be unclassified . If there is a

concern about the classification of the information, I will indicate

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such and the proceedings will stop until the classification issue is

resolved

Has the detainee had the opportunity to review the

opening statement? And if so, does he require translation today?

PR 1 : Yes , ma'am , has seen it . And he does not require

translation .

PM: Personal representatives , you may proceed with your opening

statements.

PR 1 : Thank you.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the board. We are

the personal representatives for Mr. Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed Al Sawah .

We are joined by the private counsel for Tariq and his translator .

We have met with Tarig for approximately 50 hours over the past four

months and he is eager to participate in this periodic review board

process . Tariq is here, ready and willing to address any questions

or concerns that you may have .

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter .

Pending any questions from the Board, this concludes my brief .

PM : Thank you .

We understand that board members may reserve questions

until detainee and witness statements have been presented in their

entirety

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Does any board member of the board have questions for

the personal representatives or private counsel in this session?

[ No verbal response from the members.

PM : Seeing no questions, concludes this portion of the

hearing

I request all remain seated until further instructed by the

case administrator .

CA : We will take a 15- minute recess to prepare for the

remaining sessions .

BM : Do we know if the personal counsel had an opening statement

that he wanted to make

CA : No, sir, they did not wish to make one at the unclassified

session.

BM: Okay .

[ The public session closed at 0921, 22 January 2015.

[At this point , the unclassified portion of the hearing ended .

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ABBREVIATION AND ACRONYM KEY

BM : BOARD MEMBER

DET: DETAINEE

PC: PRIVATE COUNSEL

PM: PRESIDINGMEMBER

PR 1 PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ONE

PR 2 PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVETWO

TRANS 1 : TRANSLATOR ONE ( LOCATED AT PRS HQ )

TRANS 2 : TRANSLATOR TWO ( LOCATED AT GUANTANAMO BAY )

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Unclassified Summary of FinalDetermination

Date of File Review Determination Detainee Name DetaineeISN

12 February 2015 Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed Al Sawah 535

The Periodic Review Board , by consensus , determined continued law of war detention of the detainee is no longer

necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.

In makingthis determination, the Boardconsidered the detainee'schangeof ideologyand renunciationofviolence and

his status as one of the most compliant detaineesat Guantanamo, as well as his recognitionof his health status and his

efforts to improveit. The detaineeis not in communicationwith extremists outside ofGuantanamoand his family hascommitted to assist in his reintegrationupontransfer.

The PRB recommends that the detainee be transferred to a country with appropriate support, including adequate

medical care, subject to appropriate security assurances as determined by the Guantanamo Detainee Transfer WorkingGroup

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