Legal Commentary

Federal Judge Orders Release of Gitmo Detainee Khaled Al-Mutairi

By Jeralyn

Khaled Al-Mutairi, a Kuwaiti detainee held at Guantanamo for the past 8 years, was ordered released today by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Al-Mutairi was seized in Pakistan in 2001.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly ruled the Government has insufficient evidence to continue his detention and ordered him released. It's a final order, which means the Government can appeal. A declassified opinion should be issued within days.

Three more Kuwaitis remain in Guantanamo. All have been represented by David Cynamon of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Fawzi Al-Odah and Fouad Al Rabiah will receive habeas hearings in August, and Fayiz al-Kandari’s hearing is scheduled for September 2009.

Originally, there were 12. The U.S. released 8 back to Kuwait in 2005-2006. According to an email from the Kuwaiti Family Committee, upon their return to Kuwait, they were charged, tried and acquitted.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 30, 2009 (boomark / email).