Examining Saudi Arabia's 85 Most Wanted List

MAY 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 5 Examining Saudi Arabia’s al-Aufi appeared in a video alongside al- wanted repatriated to face Saudi justice. Qaìda in Yemen commander Nasir al- According to Saudi sources, the two 85 Most Wanted List Wahayshi and deputy commander Qasim Yemenis were not on the original list, al-Raymi announcing the formation of while Yemeni officials have noted that By Christopher Boucek AQAP, a product of the merger of the they were added at the last minute.10 Yemeni and Saudi al-Qaìda affiliates.4 in february 2009, the Saudi government In addition, the statements in the video The list of 85 was provided to Interpol, released a new list of 85 most wanted focused on the war in Gaza and criticism which in turn issued an Orange Notice terrorism suspects. All of the individuals of Arab leaders, including Egyptian requesting information about the on the list are suspected of being outside President Hosni Mubarak, Hizb Allah suspects. It was not until March 25, the country’s borders. The publication leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Saudi 2009 that a Red Notice was issued for of the list followed the January release Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin 81 suspects. Red Notices can act in part of an al-Qaìda video featuring Saudi Na’if bin Àbd al-Àziz. Al-Shahri and as an international arrest warrant, and returnees from Guantanamo Bay who are al-Aufi both spoke about Guantanamo, it indicated the kingdom’s desire to now operating out of Yemen. The video accusing regional governments of extradite the 81 suspects. It is not clear was the first public confirmation that cooperating with the U.S. government what accounts for the differences in the former Saudi Guantanamo detainees by sending interrogators to the U.S. two lists. It is possible that the 81 figure had returned to militancy and fled the detention facility to extract confessions excludes the two Yemenis and two kingdom. later used against detainees. Al-Shahri Saudis, the latter of whom have already discussed prison conditions in Saudi been repatriated to Saudi Arabia since This article seeks to place the list in Arabia, while al-Aufi railed against the issuance of the original list.11 context and provide a brief overview of the Saudi care program, mentioning by the suspects, including travel patterns, name Prince Muhammad bin Na’if5 and Missing Guantanamo Returnees suspected current whereabouts, and Dr. Turki al-Atyan.6 Publicity generated Included on the list of 85 were 11 Saudi details of the charges against them. It is by the video focused attention on the nationals who had returned from based on discussions with Saudi officials relative “success rate” of Saudi efforts to Guantanamo Bay and are now believed and a review of Saudi documents reintegrate returnees from Guantanamo to be in Yemen. Prior to the release of detailing the allegations and charges Bay.7 the list, it was understood that the Saudi 1 against the 85 individuals. government was unable to locate several Shortly after this news, on February returnees who had passed through Release of the List 2, 2009 Saudi authorities released a rehabilitation. The disappearance of the In late January 2009, news broke that new list of 85 most wanted terrorism 11 returnees was well-coordinated in two Saudi returnees from Guantanamo suspects.8 The list of 85 persons—83 advance and they traveled to Yemen in Bay had surfaced in Yemen and Saudi nationals and two Yemeni several groups.12 The flight of the Saudi assumed leadership positions with the nationals—included only suspects who returnees was allegedly coordinated with newly formed al-Qaìda in the Arabian were located outside the country. It other non-Saudi former Guantanamo Peninsula (AQAP). The returnees were is unclear why the two Yemenis—al- detainees who have been repatriated identified as Said al-Shahri (#31 and ISN Wahayshi and al-Raimi9—were included to other countries, indicating that 372) and Mohammed al-Aufi (#73 and in a list of suspects that the kingdom returnees have maintained ties from 2 ISN 333). The news was compounded Guantanamo.13 Since the first returnees by the fact that the two were also 2009. graduates of Saudi rehabilitation and 4 The video was likely produced on or around January 10 Their inclusion on the list is odd in light of Article 44 reintegration programs for returnees 12, 2009. of the Yemeni constitution that prohibits the extradition from Guantanamo Bay.3 Al-Shahri and 5 Prince Muhammad bin Na’if bin Àbd al-Àziz is of Yemeni nationals. This has previously contributed to the assistant minister of interior for security affairs, the difficulty in the cases of Jamal al-Badawi and Jabir al- 1 The author’s discussions with Saudi officials occurred overall official responsible for the Saudi rehabilitation Banna. in February and March 2009 in Saudi Arabia. Most of program. 11 On April 8, 2009, Agence France-Presse reported the officials were from the Interior Ministry. Much of the 6 Dr. Turki al-Atyan is the head of the Psychological and that three of the 85 had been repatriated to Saudi Ara- information, however, was discovered after studying the Social Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee, which bia, although no names were provided. The two Saudis 85 most wanted list in addition to the accompanying dos- runs the rehabilitation program. known to have been repatriated are al-Aufi (#73 and ISN siers on the suspects written by the Saudi government. 7 Initial returnees from Guantanamo went through a 333) and Abdullah Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Harbi 2 Individuals are identified in this article by their num- different process than later returnees. For more informa- (#43). Fahd Rikad Sameer al-Ruwaili (#61) is believed to ber on the list of 85 as issued by the Saudi government. tion, see Christopher Boucek, “After Guantanamo: How have surrendered to Yemeni authorities. The author has Returnees from Guantanamo Bay are also identified by Effective are Rehabilitation Programmes in the Muslim not seen a copy of the Red Notice list. their Internment Serial Number (ISN). Transliterations World?” Royal United Services Institute, February 10, 12 At least one group was delivered into Yemen by Saudi are based on the official government list as published in 2009. criminal smugglers unconnected to al-Qaìda who have English by the Saudi Press Agency. The numbers and 8 The Saudi government had previously issued two oth- since been arrested by Saudi authorities. It has been English spellings differ from the Interpol list. er most wanted lists, with the last being issued in June claimed that others traveled disguised as women. See 3 Robert Worth, “Freed by the US, Saudi Becomes al 2005 that included 36 suspects. Huda al-Saleh, “Saudi Most Wanted Suspects Used Qaeda Chief,” New York Times, January 23, 2009; Caryle 9 Among the charges against the two Yemenis, al-Raimi Disguises to Flee Country,” Sharq al-Awsat, February 11, Murphy, “Ex-Guantanamo Inmates Return to Militancy is charged with plotting to assassinate the U.S. ambassa- 2009. in Yemen,” The Christian Science Monitor, January 27, dor in Yemen. 13 Personal interview, senior Saudi official, February MAY 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 5 were repatriated to the kingdom in while another sub-group is alleged to Social and Family Connections 2003, the Saudi government has been be connected with a cell in Yemen led Examination of the list reveals a number able to exert significant social control by the late-Hamza al-Qùyati. Those of family and social connections among over returnees by explaining that charged with targeting oil or “vital the suspects.20 Family and social their continued good behavior would facilities”—a term frequently used to connections are useful in understanding facilitate the return of the remaining describe hydrocarbon infrastructure— the list; it helps place in perspective that Saudis held at Guantanamo. The 11 includes Ibrahim Hassan Tali Assiri these are not merely 85 unconnected Saudis fled once it became clear that the (#1), Salah Abdullah Saleh al-Qaraawi individuals, but rather a group of roughly 13 remaining Saudi nationals at (#34), Abdullah Hassan Tali Assiri people connected by a series of social Guantanamo Bay would not be released (#40), Obaid Abdul Rahman Abdullah networks. from U.S. custody. al-Otaibi (#50), Mohammed Abdul Rahman Suleiman al-Rashid (#71), Ibrahim Hassan Tali Assiri (#1) appears Several weeks before the list’s public Naif Mohammed Saeed al-Kodari al- to be the brother of Abdullah Hassan release, Ministry of Interior officials Qahtani (#81), and Waleed Ali Mishafi Tali Assiri (#40). Abdullah Farraj visited the families of the 83 Saudi al-Mishafi Assiri (#83). Several on the list Mohammed Hamoud al-Juweir (#46) suspects and urged them to help facilitate are accused of belonging to a cell in Iran is the brother of Fahd al-Juweir, who the return of their loved ones. Families led by Saleh al-Qaraawi (#34), the alleged was killed by Saudi security several were informed that their relative’s name leader of an al-Qaìda group in Iran.16 days after the February 2006 Abqaiq would appear on a list of individuals oil facility attack.21 Fahd allegedly led wanted in connection with terrorism Statistics on Alleged Locations of Suspects the attack against the massive Abqaiq and security offenses. The families were The suspects on the list are believed to facility and was #2 on the list of 36 most encouraged to facilitate their relatives’ be in several countries. Privately, Saudi wanted released by Saudi Arabia in June return in exchange for leniency.

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