Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi, originally from Saudi Arabia, has been charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, attacking civilians and civilian objects, 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 government has elected to try al-Hawsawi with four other detainees, all of whom are alleged to have been directly involved in the planning and execution of the September 11 terrorist attacks; the Defense Department is seeking the death penalty for all of them. The government claims that al-Hawsawi helped research flight schools for the 9/11 terrorist attacks and administered bank accounts for several of the hijackers.

Although al-Hawsawi was reportedly arrested and transferred to US custody in March 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."

Al-Hawsawi has not yet formally accepted counsel, but lawyers acting on his behalf have contested his mental capacity to stand trial.

In November 2009 Attorney general Eric Holder announced that Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi along with four co-defendents in the 9/11 prosecution, would be moved from Guantanamo to stand trial in federal district court in New York City. However, after New York officials raised objections based on purported security and cost concerns, the Obama administration suspended its decision to move the case to federal court. Finally, on April 4, 2011, Holder reversed course and announced that the co-defendants would be tried before a military commission in Guantanamo. Click on the link below for more information.

Human Rights Watch Commentary:

• Human Rights Watch press release, "US: Military Commission Trials for 9/11 Suspects a Blow to Justice," April 4, 2011
• Human Rights Watch press release, "US: Federal Court Prosecution of 9/11 Suspects a Victory for Justice," November 13, 2009
• 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 "List of ‘Ghost Prisoners' Possibly in CIA Custody," December 2005
• Human Rights Watch briefing paper section, "‘Disappeared:' The CIA's Long-Term ‘Ghost Detainees,'" October 2004

Military Commissions Documents:

• General Information Page
• Charges Sworn - February 11, 2008
• Charges referred - May 9, 2008
• Charges sworn - May 31, 2011

Click here to return to the list of detainees.