Gitmo Prisoner First to Get ReviewThe following is the transcript of a recording obtained:WASHINGTON - The U.S. military said Friday that it had scheduled the first hearing into whether a terror suspect at a Navy base in Cuba is being properly held.
The hearing for the unidentified prisoner was set for Friday afternoon at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Navy Secretary Gordon England said at the Pentagon. It was the first time one of the 590 Guantanamo Bay prisoners would be able to make a formal case for his freedom.
A panel of military officers will decide whether he is indeed an "enemy combatant", as the military contends, or wrongly held and therefore should be set free.
[door squeaking open]
Military Guard: Prisoner, stand here.
[shuffling feet and clanking chains]
Presiding Military Officer: State you name for the record.
Prisoner: Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Omar bin Othman al-Ahmed.
Officer: State your country of origin.
Prisoner: I am from Yemen.
Officer: [shuffling papers] Okay Mr. Mohammed....you were detained in Afghanistan? Is that correct?
Prisoner: Yes. I was walking my goats and-
Officer: And you are asking to be released from detention? Is that correct?
Prisoner: Yes. I am not a terroris-
Officer: And on what basis should you be released? What reason should you be let go?
Prisoner: I was saying I am not a terrorist. I am a simple goat trader and-
Officer: Goat trader? You were found in possession of several assault rifles, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and a crate of explosives. You are joking, right?
Prisoner: No, I am Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Omar bin Othman al-Ahmed. I would like to be let go.
Officer: No. Next.
Posted by Mad Mikey at July 30, 2004 11:55 AM | TrackBack