Ramzi bin al-Shibh
Nationality: YemeniRamzi bin al-Shibh, a Yemeni, has been charged with conspiracy, attacking civilians and civilian objects, causing serious bodily injury, murder, destruction of property, hijacking, terrorism and providing material support for terrorism. The government plans to try bin al-Shibh 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.
The US government claims that bin al-Shibh was chosen by bin Laden to be one of the participants in the 9/11 hijacking, but was unable to do so when his repeated requests for a US visa were denied.
Although bin al-Shibh was reportedly arrested and transferred to US custody in September 2002, he was not transferred to Guantanamo until four years later. In the interim he was reportedly interrogated and held incommunicado in secret CIA detention facilities, where he was effectively “disappeared.” Evidence suggests that he was rendered to Jordan from some period of time, where he was reportedly badly tortured with electric shock, long periods of sleep deprivation, forced nakedness and being made to sit on sticks and bottles (a form of sexual violence).
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 report section, “Double Jeopardy: CIA Renditions to Jordan”, April 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
Military Commissions Documents:
- General Information Page
- Charges Sworn – February 11, 2008
- Charges referred – May 9, 2008
