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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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