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Salim Ahmed Hamdan

Nationality: Yemeni

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a 37-year-old Yemeni, was captured by Afghan forces and handed over to the US military in late 2001. He is charged with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism based on claims that he served as Osama bin Laden’s driver and transported weapons and other supplies to aid in fighting against US and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Hamdan was initially charged with conspiracy before the military commission in July 2004. He challenged the legality of the commissions in a case that went to the Supreme Court. In June 2006 the Supreme Court ruled that the military commissions initially authorized by President Bush were unlawful because the president had not obtained congressional authority to establish them. Four months later, in September 2006, Congress passed the Military Commissions Act authorizing a new system of military commissions, under which Hamdan and the other detainees listed here are all being tried.

Human Rights Watch has serious concerns about Hamdan’s treatment in US custody. He claims that in Afghanistan, US forces beat, punched and kicked him, as well as held him in stress positions and subjected him to severe cold. At Guantanamo, Hamdan claims he was held in solitary confinement in a windowless cell for nearly a year.

Human Rights Watch Commentary:

Military Commissions Documents:
Salim Ahmed Hamdan © 2006 Reuters