28MARCH2016 GUANTANAMO DETAINEE PROFILE

UNCLASSIFIED

Approved for Public Release

28MARCH2016

GUANTANAMO DETAINEE PROFILEDetainee ISN : PK- 1461

Detainee ISN PK - 1461

Detainee Name MohammedAhmedGhulamRabbani

DetaineeAllases AbuBadr, Abu Badr al-Pakistani, MohammedShah

Nationality Pakistanicitizen, bornand inSaudiArabia

Date of Birth October 1969

Arrival at Guantanamo September2004

Mohammed AhmedGhulam Rabbani, a.k.a.Abu Badr, (PK 1461) was a financialand travelfacilitator forprominental-Qa'ida leaders Khalid ShaykhMuhammad(KU - 10024) and USS Cole mastermindAbd al-Rahimal-Nashiri from 1997 until his arrest inSeptember 2002.His primary jobs were to run al-Qa'ida safehouses inKarachi, Pakistan, help facilitate the travel ofmujahideenand their families to and from Afghanistan, and acquireand drive vehicles. His access to several key al-Qa'ida figures positioned PK - 1461to play a support role in alQa'ida operations, includingthe planningfor an attack in the Strait ofHormuzand possibly the al- Qa'ida anthraxprogram .

PK -1461's extremist activity began around 1994, when hejoined an ethnic Burmese jihadistgroup inPakistanafter havingbeen expelled from Saudi Arabia for three alcohol-related incarcerations and having failed to earn alivingasa hireddriver in the UnitedArab Emirates. In 1997, hebegan working foral-Qa'ida inKandahar, wherehemet Usama Bin Ladin. In 1998 he recruitedhisbrother Abdul RahimGhulam Rabbani(PK - 1460) to join himin runningguest houses and serving as a facilitator for al Qa'ida

At Guantanamo, PK -1461has been relativelynon-compliant with the guard force compared to otherdetainees.Mostofhis infractionsoccurred between 2013 and 2015 probably inpart to protest his separation from hisbrother. PK- 1461 also has been on hunger strike for an extendedperiodof time. PK - has provided littleinformation ofvalue and has recantedseveral of his earlierstatements about his support to al-Qa'ida.

PK -1461has indicatedthathe would like to be transferred to Malaysiabecause he is ethnically Burmese. He hasmarketablejob skills, havingbeen a former sweets maker and a professionaldriver. However, accordingto asource with firsthand access PK- 1461remains steadfast in his support for extremistcauses and groups,praisingacts terrorism and expressingdisdain forAmericans. PK-1461has maintainedcontact with formerdetainees,one ofwhom is confirmedof havingreengaged in terrorist activitieswith ISIL , and whocould providePK -1461with a clear avenue to reengageafterhis release ifhe chose to do so.

Approved for Public ReleaseUNCLASSIFIED

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PERIODIC REVIEW BOARDINITIALHEARING, SEP2016

MOHAMMEDAHMED RABBANI, ISN 1461PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVEOPENING STATEMENT

Good ladies and gentlemen of the board, we are the Personal Representatives for Mr.Ahmed Rabbani (ISN 1461). Mr. Rabbani has been a willing participant in this process and hasremained quite flexible to the changes in meetings and Board dates, as well as the changes inPersonal Representatives and Private Counsel , which have happened along the way .

While Mr. Rabbani longs to return to his wife and children , he knows that there are severalthings that have to happen first. Mr. Rabbani is here today and eager to answer your questions ina bid to gain your recommendation for transfer to Pakistan, although he will go anywhere theBoard recommends . He has also expressed his willingness to participate in any rehabilitationprogram .

Earlier in his life, Mr. Rabbani managed hotels with his father , and later, he managed them onhis own . Mr. Rabbani was a shrewd and cunning businessman and chased after the almightydollar did not really care to find out who he was working with , but he stresses that he wasworking for money, not for a religious cause or an agenda.

While he is still a hunger striker, Mr. Rabbani eats at our meetings and now goes willingly to hisfeedings to consume his liquid meals. Hunger striking is a peaceful way of protesting hissituation and one of the few choices or decisions that Mr. Rabbani feels he can make while indetainment . Mr. Rabbani has started to eat regular food but after years of hunger striking, hisbody now rejects the food and causes him severe nausea . Mr. Rabbani is now working with themedical staff in an effort to get back on solid food.

Mr. Rabbani has focused on his artistic skills while here in Guantanamo ; he has painted hundreds

of pieces of art, some of which have been submitted for the board to see. Additionally , an art

dealer in New York is interested in showing some of Mr. Rabbani's art, which could potentiallylead to an income source in the future.

While not happy with his detainment, Mr. Rabbani has never expressed any anti -Americansentiments to us , and has repeatedly affirmed that he has no desire to harm anyone upon hisrelease from detention. His desire is to get back with his family and become a contributingmember of society . He wants the board to know that he is not a continuing threat to the safetyand security ofAmericans, America or its allies .

When asked about his plans for the future, Mr. Rabbani thought his work ethic, language skillshe is conversant in4 languages) and prior work in the hospitality industry would serve him well.

He could also work as a taxi driver, shop keeper or cook .


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We feel that Mr. Rabbani has grown in maturity; and he now understands the consequences and

importance of knowing who you are working with . These changes, along with the dedicated

support and committed resources from Reprieve will greatly assist in his transition upontransfer

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REPRIEVE U.S.

405 LexingtonAve. .New York, NY 10074

August22, 2016

Re: Statement by Shelby Sullivan-Bennis Private Counsel for Ahmed

Rabbani ( ISN 1461) Periodic Review Board Bearing Scheduled September ,2016

Esteemed Periodic Review Board Members,

My name is Shelby Sullivan-Bennis. It is my privilegeto representAhmed Rabbaniandto appearbefore this board today. I do so on behalfof all those at Reprieve, who havebeenhis counselfor the durationofhis time inGuantánamo.

Ahmed Rabbani appears before this board today after harrowing fourteen years indetention which began, as we now know, as case of mistaken identity. The ExecutiveSummary of the Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceStudy of the CIA's Detention

and InterrogationProgram( Report") confirms what Ahmed knew from the start:

[ September 11, 2002, it was determined that an individual named MuhammadAhmedGhulam Rabbani, aka Abu Badr, and his driver were arrested, not Hassan Ghul."

Thus, Ahmed was indeed not a senior al Qaeda leader, a concession that did not arrive

until after he had suffered dreadfully in a black site ( the Senate report reflects that he was

one of the few subjected to " enhanced interrogation techniques authorization).

He has remained indetention at GuantánamoBay and appears beforethis board today totell hisstory.

In an effort to pave the way for Ahmed's release from Guantánamo Bay, we at Reprieve,as well as those at our affiliate organization in Pakistan, the Foundation for Fundamental

Rights, have been in close contact with Ahmed's family over the years. We stay inregular contact with his wife, brother- in - law , and other members ofhis family inPakistanand Saudi Arabia

Ahmed has a warm and close family who miss him greatly. He has children who

were youngwhen Ahmed was first detained, and a third who was born after he was takenfrom Pakistanwho has nevermet father. Hisyoungestchild is now a teenager whose only

connectionwithhis father over the years has been through ICRC arranged monthly calls.Sufficeit to say Ahmed's family is eager to have himback.

Ahmed's wife and youngest son live in a 4 -bedroom house in the Korangi region ofKarachi, owned by his mother- in -law . When Ahmed is released, he will join them thereand will have ready access to several local service providers, including medical and

psychological health facilities based in Karachi with whom my office has existing

SSCI Report at 325

Statement by Private Counsel for Abmed Rabbani ( ISN 1461)

PRB Hearing Scheduled September 01, 2016


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r

REPRIEVEU.S.

relationships. Ahmed'sfamily is ready, willingand able to providehim a home and findhima job so that he may start his life anew In the time betweenreleaseand acquisitionof gainfulemployment, Ahmed's family, both in Pakistanas wellas his family in SaudiArabia, haveoffered to financiallysupport himuntil he getsback on his feet. Indeed, theamountofsupportAhmedhaswaitingforhim is considerable.

Additionally, Reprieve has a program set up to help our clients reintegrate into societycalled “ LifeAfter Guantanámo, " which is partially fundedby the UnitedNations. This is

a program that serves the interests of each relevant stakeholder the client needs the

help, and we the United States) want the client to do well. For several clients who were

resettled and repatriated by both Administrations, we worked with the State Department

and host governments on transition plans for clients; we have visited clients multipletimes after release; we have served as an ongoing point of contact for local authorities;

we have facilitated financial support and referrals for needs ranging from job placementto mental health care. We were a trusted and experienced resource in facilitating asuccessful transition for these clients, who are now rebuilding their lives. Finally, as

mentioned, we have specific experience working with groups on the ground in Pakistan.We wouldofcourseoffer the same assistance to Ahmed.

Thank you for taking into consideration the information we have provided. Werespectfully submit that Ahmed Rabbani should be approved for transfer fromGuantánamoconsistentwith the President'smandateto closethe prison. I remain at yourdisposalto assistwithany questionsyou mayhaveregardingMr.Rabbani.

Very TrulyYours

SheyShelby Sullivan-Bennis

ReprieveUS

Statementby PrivateCounselfor Ahmed Rabbani( ISN1461)PRBHcaringScheduledSeptember01, 2016

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CA : This Periodic Review Board is being conducted at 0902

hours on 1 September 2016, with regard to the following

detainee: Mohammed Ahmed Rabanni .

As a reminder , the unclassified portion of these

proceedings are being recorded for the purpose of generating a

transcript to be posted on the PRS website.

TRANS : [ TRANSLATION OF ABOVE )

CA : Representatives from the following agencies are

present and are members of the Board :

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE;

DEPARTMENT OF STATE ;

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ;

DEPARTMENTOF HOMELAND SECURITY

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOROF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE; AND

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF .

The following personnel are also present:

LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

CASE ADMINISTRATORS

PERSONALREPRESENTATIVES

PRIVATECOUNSEL;

TWO TRANSLATORS;

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THE DETAINEE; AND

SECURITY OFFICER

TRANS : [ TRANSLATION OF ABOVE ]

CA: The detainee's Personal Representatives, Private

Counsel , the detainee , and one translator are located at the

detention facility, U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba.

They are attending via video teleconference and the detainee

waived translation of the unclassified summary , and Personal

Representative and Private Counsel's opening statements . These

documents have been posted to the Periodic Review Secretariat

website . This session is being observed by foreign, national,

and local media, and representatives from non - governmental

organizations .

TRANS : [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE)

PM : Good morning. This Board is convened to determine

whether continued law of war detention is warranted for Mohammed

Ahmed Rabanni, ISN 1461, protect against a continuing

significant threat to the United States. From here forward ,

we'll refer to the detainee as Ahmed Rabbani . This session of

the hearing is unclassified .

TRANS 1 : [ TRANSLATION OF ABOVE

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Approvedfor Public ReleaseUNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED


PM: Ahmed Rabbani , this is your Periodic Review Board

determine whether continued law of war detention is warranted in

your case . Continued law of war detention will be warranted if

it's necessary to protect against a continuing significant

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 released from U.S. custody . It is

not on the lawfulness of your detention.


PM: The Personal Representatives and Private Counsel are

your representatives to assist you during this process .

Finally , the translators ensure that everybody understands your

statements and that you understandwhat is being said during the

hearing .

TRANS 1 TRANSLATION OF ABOVE

PM: Personal Representatives and Private Counsel , has

Ahmed Rabbani had an opportunity to review the unclassified

summary ?

TRANS 1 : [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE

PR 1 : Yes, Ma'am.


PM: Thank you. I'll read the unclassified summary :

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Mohammed Ahmed Rabbani, ISN 1461, was a financial and

travel facilitator for prominent al- Qaeda leaders Khalid Shaykh

Muhammad and USS COLE mastermind Abd al- Rahim al- Nasiri [ sic]

from 1997 until Rabbani's arrest in September 2002 . His primary

jobs were to run al- Qaeda safe houses in Karachi Pakistan; help

facilitate the travel of mujahedeen and their families to and

from Afghanistan ; and acquire and drive vehicles . His access to

several key al- Qaeda figures positioned Ahmed Rabbani to play a

support role in al- Qaeda operations , including the planning of...

for an attack in the Strait of Hormuz and possibly the al- Qaeda

anthrax program.

Ahmed Rabbani's extremist activities began around 1994 ,

when he joined an ethnic Burmese jihadist group in Pakistan

after having been expelled from Saudi Arabia due to the three

alcohol- related incarcerations. He failed to earn a living as a

hired driver in the United Arab Emirates. In 1997 , he began

working for al- Qaeda in Kandahar , where he met Usama bin Laden.

In 1998 , he recruited his brother Abdul Rahim Ghulam Rabbani ,

ISN 1460 , to join him in running a guest hou... in running guest

houses and serving as a facilitator for al - Qaeda .

At Guantanamo , Ahmed Rabbani has been relatively non

compliant with the guard force compared to other detainees.

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Most of his infractions occurred between 2013 and 2015 , probably

in part to protest his separation from his brother. Ahmed

Rabbani has also been on hunger strike for an extended period of

time . Ahmed Rabbani has provided little informationof value

and has recanted several of his earlier statements about his

support for al- Qaeda.

Ahmed Rabbani has indicated that he would like to be

transferred to Malaysia because he is ethnically Burmese. He

has marketable job skills , having been a former sweets maker and

a professional driver . However, according to source with first

hand access, Ahmed Rabbani remains steadfast in his support for

extremist causes and groups, praising acts of terrorism and

expressing disdain for Americans. Ahmed Rabbani has maintained

contact with former detainees , one of whom is confirmed having

reengaged in terrorist activities with ISIL, and who could

provide ramad... Ahmed Rabbani with clear venue to reengage in

his... to reengage after his release if he chooses to do so .

Do Personal Representatives and Private Counsel wish to

make unclassified opening statements at this time ?

TRANS 1 : [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE ]

PR 1 : Yes, Ma'am.

TRANS 2 : TRANSLATION OF ABOVE

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UNCLASSIFIED


PM: All right. I'd like to remind all participants that

information shared at this time must be unclassified. If

there's a concern about the classification of the information,

I'll indicate as such and stop the proceedings until we resolve

the issue. Has Ahmed Rabbani had an opportunity to review your

statements?


PR 1 : Yes, Ma'am.

TRANS 2 : [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE]

PM: All right. Personal Representatives, please proceed.


PR 2 Good Morning , ladies and gentlemen of the Board . We

are the Personal Representatives for Mr. Ahmed Rabbani, ISN

1461. Mr. Rabbani has been a willing participant in this

process and has remained quite flexible to the changes in

meetings and Board dates, as well as the changes in Personal

Representativesand Private Counsel, which have happened along

the way

While Mr. Rabbani longs to return to his wife and children,

he knows that there are several things that have to happen

first. Mr. Rabbani is here today and is eager to answer your

questions in a bay... in a bid to gain your recommendation for

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UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

Approved for Public

transfer to Pakistan, although he is willing to go anywhere the

Board recommends . He has also expressed his willingness to

participate in any rehabilitationprogram.

Earlier in his life, Mr. Rabbani managed hotels with his

father , and later, he managed them on his own . Mr. Rabbani was

a shrewd and cunning businessman and chased after the almighty

dollar . He did not really care to find out who he was working

with , but he stresses that he was working for money , not for a

religious cause or agenda .

While he is still a hunger striker, Mr. Rabbani eats at our

meetings and now goes willingly to his feedings to consume his

liquid meals. Hunger striking is a peaceful way of protesting

his situation and one of the few choices or decisions that Mr.

Rabbani feels he can make while in detainment. Mr. Rabbanihas

started to eat regular food, but after years of hunger striking,

his body now rejects the food and causes him severe nausea . Mr.

Rabbani is now working with the medical staff in an effort to

get back on solid food.

Mr. Rabbani has focused on his artistic skills while here

in Guantanamo. He has painted hundreds of pieces of , some

of which have been submittedfor the Board to see .

Additionally, an art dealer in New York is interested in showing

7


UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

Approvedfor Public Release

some of Mr. Rabbani's art, which could potentially lead to an

income source in the future.

While not happy with his detainment , Mr. Rabbani has never

expressed any anti- American sentiments to us , and he's

repeatedly affirmed that he has no desire to harm anyone upon

his release from detention. His desire is to get back with his

family and become a contributing member of society. He wants

the board to know that he is not a continuing threat to the

safety and security of Americans, America, or its allies.

When asked about his plans for the future , Mr. Rabbani

thought his work ethic , language skills he is conversant in 4

languages and prior work in a hospit... hospitality industry

would serve him well. He could also work as a taxi driver, a

shopkeeper , or a cook .

We that Mr. Rabbani has grown in maturity; and he now

understands the consequences and the importance of knowing who

you are working with . These changes, along with the dedicated

support and committed resources from Reprieve , will greatly

assist in his transition upon transfer . Thank you.

PM : Thank you. Private Counsel, you may proceed with your

unclassified opening statement .

TRANS 1 : [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE

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UNCLASSIFIED

Approvedfor Public Release

PC: Esteemed Periodic Review Board Members, my name is

Shelby Sullivan- Bennis. It is my privilege to represent Ahmed

Rabbani and to appear before this Board today . I do on

behalf of all those at Reprieve who have been his counsel for

the durationof his time in Guantanamo.

Ahmed Rabbani appears before this Board today after a

harrow harrowing 14 years in detention which began, as we now

know, as a case of mistaken identity. The Executive Summary of

the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Study of the CIA'S

Detention InterrogationProgram confirms what Ahmed knew from

the start by September 11, 2002 , it was determined that an

individual named Muhammad Ahmed Ghulam Rabbani, aka Abu Badr,

and his driver were arrested, not Hassan Ghul . Thus, Ahmed was

indeed not a senior al- Qaeda leader, a concession that did not

arrive until after he had suffered dreadfully in a " Black Site. "

The Senate report reflects that he was one of the few subjected

to enhanced interrogation techniques without authorization . He

has remained in detention at Guantanamo Bay, and appears before

this Board today to tell his story .

In an effort to pave the way for Ahmed's release from

Guantanamo Bay we at Reprieve, as well as those at our

affiliate organization in Pakistan, the Foundation for


UNCLASSIFIED


Fundamental Rights, have been in close contact with Ahmed's

family over the years . We stay in regular contact with his

wife, brother- in- law and other members of his family in

Pakistan and Saudi... Saudi Arabia .

Ahmed was ... has a warm and close family who miss him

greatly. He has two children who were young when Ahmed was

first detained, and a third who was born after he was taken from

Pakistan who has never met his father . His youngest child is

now a teenager whose only connection with his father over the

years has been through ICRC arranged monthly calls . Suffice it

to say that Ahmed's family is eager to have him back .

Ahmed's wife and youngest son live in a four bedroom house

in the Korangi region of Karachi, owned by his mother- in- law .

When Ahmed is released, he will join them there and will have

ready access to se... to several local service providers,

including medical and psychological health facilities based in

Karachi with whom my office has existing relationships . Ahmed's

family is ready willing, and able to provide him a home and

find him a job so that he may start his life anew . In the time

between release and acquisitionof gainful employment, Ahmed's

family, both in Pakistan as well as his family in Saudi Arabia ,

have offered to financially support him until he gets back on

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UNCLASSIFIED


his feet . Indeed, the amount of support Ahmed has waiting for

him is considerable.

Additionally , Reprieve has a program set up to help our

clients reintegrate into society called " Life After Guantanamo ,

which is partially funded by the United Nations . This is

program that serves the interests of each relevant stakeholder

the client needs the help, and we , the United States, want the

client to do well. For several clients who were resettled and

repatriated by both Administrations, we worked with the State

Department and host governments on transition plans for clients;

we have visited clients multiple times after release ; we have

served as an ongoing point of contact for local authorities; we

have facilitated financial support and referrals for needs

ranging from job placement to mental health care ; we were

trusted and experienced resource in facilitating successful

transition for these clients, who are now rebuilding their

lives. Finally , as mentioned , we have specific experience

working with groups on the ground in Pakistan, and we would of

course offer the same assistance to Ahmed.

Thank you for taking into consideration the information we

have provided . We respectfully submit that Ahmed Rabbani should

be approved for transfer from Guantanamo consistent with the

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UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED


President's mandate to close the prison . I remain at your

disposal to assist with any questions you may have regarding Mr.

Rabbani. Thank you.

PM : Board Members may reserve questions until detainee and

witness statements have presented... been presented in their

entirety . Does anyone have a question, at this time?

( NON - VERBAL RESPONSE FROM BMS)

TRANS : [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE

PM : All right. With no questions, this concludes this

portion of the hearing. I'd ask that we all remain seated until

further instructed by the Case Administrator .

TRANS 1 [ TRANSLATIONOF ABOVE

CA: We will take a 15- minute recess to prepare for the

remaining sessions.

TRANS 1 : [ TRANSLATION OF ABOVE ]

[ The public session closed at 0920 , 1 September 2016.

[ END OF PAGE ]

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ABBREVIATION AND ACRONYM KEY

BM: BOARD MEMBER

CA: CASE ADMINISTRATOR

DET : DETAINEE

PC : PRIVATE COUNSEL

PM : PRESIDINGMEMBER

PR 1 : PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

PR 2 : PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

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 FinalDetermination DetaineeName DetaineeISN

03 OCT 2016 Mohammed Ahmad Rabbani 1461

The Periodic Review Board, by consensus , determined that continued law of war detention of the detainee remainsnecessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.

In makingthis determination, the Board consideredthe detainee's lengthy and continuous associationwith al-Qa'ida,beginningwith training in Afghanistan in 1994. The Board also noted that the detainee was a financial and travelfacilitatorover an extended period of time for al-Qa'ida externaloperationschief KhaledShaykhMuhammadand USSColebombingmastermindAbdal-Rahimal-Nashiri. Furthermore, the Boardconsideredthe detainee'slackof candor, hisevasiveand non-responsiveanswersto the Board'squestions, and his multiple contradictorystatementswhich made itdifficult for the Board to assess his mindset. Finally, the Board noted the detainee's refusal to take responsibilityorappreciate the implications of his pre-detention activities, the detainee's lengthy history of highly non-compliantbehaviorduringdetention, the detainee's strongexpressionsof support for terrorist activities, and the lack of evidenceof a changeinthe detainee'smindset.

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28MARCH2016 GUANTANAMO DETAINEE PROFILE

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