Fethi Boucetta
Encyclopedia
Determined not to have been an Enemy Combatant
The Washington Post reports that Boucetta was one of 38 detainees who was determined not to have been an enemy combatant during his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.They report that Boucetta has been released.
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
speculates that Boucetta may be one of a select number of detainees under consideration for an offer of Asylum.
Habeas corpus
At least one habeas corpusHabeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
petition was submitted on his behalf.
On April 17, 2007 the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
submitted a motion to dismiss his habeas corpus petition, and approximately 100 other habeas corpus petions, because he was no longer in US custody. The motion says his case was amalgamated into Mohammon v. Bush. The motion identifies him as: "Abu Mohammed", "Dr. Abu Mohammed", and "Boucetta Fihi".
His case was heard before US District Court Judge Reggie Walton
Reggie Walton
Reggie Barnett Walton is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.-Early life and education :...
.
The United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
published 179 habeas petitions, but they didn't publish his.
Release
Three of the remaining Guantanamo captives who were determined not to have been enemy combatants were released to AlbaniaAlbania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
in November 2006.
The men were not identified, other than by nationality. One of the released men was an Algerian.
They were reported to have been the last of the men classified as "no longer enemy combatants to have remained in custody.
UN refugee status
An article in the Kansas City Star describes how theUnited Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
High Commission for Refugees only learned in December 2006 that the Americans had been holding internationally protected refuguees in Guantanamo.
The article says the UNHCR wrote the Pentagon, on December 20, 2006, seeking information on why Mammar Ameur
Mammar Ameur
Mammar Ameur is a citizen of Algeria who was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.The Department of Defense reports that Ameur was born on December 1, 1958, in L'aghouat, Algeria....
and Mohammed Sulaymon Barre
Mohammed Sulaymon Barre
Mohamed Saleban Bare is a Somali refugee who was held in extrajudicial detention in the United States Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba....
were being detained in Guantanamo.
The article stated that Fethi Boucetta, was also an internationally protected refugee, and that the Americans had transferred him to Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The article added that Boucetta was a medical doctor.
The BBC later interviewed him in Albania, where he was using the name "Abu Mohammed"
He told the BBC:
McClatchy interview
On June 15, 2008 the McClatchy News Service published articles based on interviews with 66 former Guantanamo captives. McClatchy reporters interviewed Abu Mohammed.He reports he remains mystified as to why he was originally captured, and why he continued to be detained.
He reports he was held for two months in the Bagram Theater Detention Facility, was told he was being sent home, but, instead, was sent to Guantanamo.