Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek bin ‘Attash
(AKA, Khalid al-Mihdhar)
Nationality: YemeniWalid Muhammad Salih Mubarek bin ‘Attash, a Yemeni, has been charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, attacking civilians and civilian objects, causing serious bodily injury, murder in violation of the laws of war, destruction of property in violation of the laws of war, hijacking, terrorism and providing material support for terrorism. The US government plans to try bin ‘Attash with four others, all of whom are alleged to have been directly involved in the planning and execution of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and is seeking the death penalty for all of them.
Bin ‘Attash is specifically accused of having been instructed by Osama bin Laden to obtain a US visa so he could travel to the US and receive pilot training in order to participate in the eventual hijacking. It is also alleged that he applied for a US visa in 1999 but was denied, after which the government claims he continued to do research for al-Qaeda and facilitated travel for the 9/11 hijackers.
Although bin ‘Attash was reportedly arrested and transferred to US custody in April 2003, he was not transferred to Guantanamo until September 2006. In the interim he was held incommunicado in secret CIA detention facilities, where he was effectively “disappeared.”
Human Rights Watch Commentary:
- Stacy Sullivan commentary, “Sabotage in Guantánamo,” salon.com, July 15, 2008
- Joanne Mariner commentary, “Arraigning the 9/11 suspects, Guantánamo-style,” salon.com, June 7, 2008
- Human Rights Watch press release, “US: Don’t Railroad 9/11 Case Through Military Commissions,” June 4, 2008
- Human Rights Watch press release, “US: 9/11 Terrorist Suspects Should Be Tried in Federal Court,” February 11, 2008
- Human Rights Watch briefing paper section, “‘Disappeared:’ The CIA’s Long-Term ‘Ghost Detainees,’” October 2004
- General Information Page
- Charges Sworn – February 11, 2008
- Charges referred – May 9, 2008
