Algerian detainee recounts his ordeal in Guantanamo camp

Hassen Zmiri, who has just been released from Guantanamo camp, was born in 1967 and left Algeria for Europe while he was 23 in 1991. After a flash stay in Italy, he moved to France where he spent three years then moved to Canada where he lived 7 years and married a Christian who gave birth to a son baptized Abdelkrim.

• Hassen has never seen his on as he left his mother before his birth. In a wide –ranging interview with Echourok at his family’s home here in Algiers, he has declared that his dearest wish was to meet his 8 year old son.
• He was jailed 10 days in 2001 after being arrested at Tim Harton café in the Canadian town Quebec following an investigation carried out by the Canadian intelligence over the attempt of the assassination of then- president George Walker Bush by one of his acquaintances. In the wake of this event, he decided to leave Canada after being cleared by the judge but the Canadian intelligence services opposed the move at the beginning.
• In 2000, he decided leave Canada for Algeria along with his wife but the Canadian authorities threatened him to put him in trouble with the Algerian security authorities, and then he resorted to head for Afghanistan to seek refuge there along with his wife.
• How did he fall in the trap of Bin Laden’s foes along with 60 companions?
• A: In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Hassen moved to Djalalabad coming from Kabul “ After nearly a month and half most of the Afghan towns were annexed by the allies’ forces, so I decided to take away my wife who got back to Canada while I moved to Tora Bora… My wife was threatened by the Canadian authorities on her arrival, that’s why I hold the grudge for this country more than the US” , he said.
• After a month passed in Tora Bora, Hassen and 60 of his companions were ordered by Oussama Bin Laden to leave for Pakistan. On their way to this country they were surprised by US air strikes killing 30 to 40 of them, while the injured sought refuge into a small village financed by Bin Laden to serve as shelter.
• But the inhabitants, who were bribed by Bin Laden’s opponents, have denounced us to Sheh Messaoud and Rebbani who offered to lead us to lead us to the village’s clinic while the injured will be transferred to Pakistan, but changed their mind the day after suggesting taking all of us to the clinic. In reality they transferred us to Djalalabad prison then to Kabul where we spent a month at the Afghan Intelligence’s premises.
• The Arabs were forced to admit under torture that they were Al Qaeda operatives wile the Afghan from Taliban. 40 detainees were transferred to Baghram prison where Taliban’s ambassador Salem Al Yameni, Bin Laden’s personal driver and Esheikh Libi’s son were in captivity; a month after the detainees were transferred to Guantanamo.
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• On their arrival they found an Arab translator who launched” You are under control of the US special forces don’t move”, after being transferred “Delta” camp, they were asked several questions like: Do you belong to Taliban?, Have you seen Molah Omar?.
• Hassen has indicated that he heard that 25 Algerian nationals are still detained in the camp, among them a 25 year old detainee who goes by the name of Said, who has been cleared by the top court since 5 months but is still there.
• Replying to a question concerning an Algerian called Ahmed Arab, Hassen has declared that he didn’t meet his there and maybe he was jailed in “Black Hole” prison.
• The battle in Cuba rest on the holly Koran…
• On his way back to Algeria in a military plane blindfolded, Hassen has refused to sign on papers that reads” Don’t fight US forces and their allies”, he laughs and says that he was reassured when he was welcomed in Algeria unchained… The Algerian authorities assured him that he was safe now… He was surprised to notice that the Koran that the Americans have given back to him was torn on the first page, adding that the battle in Cuba was based on the Holy Koran.
• His dream is to meet his son
• Hassen Zmiri is looking forward to meeting his 8 year old son Abdelkrim, as he received from his wife 9 photos and a birth certificate as well as his fingerprints. He contacted him four times since his release and knew about his school in Canada. Hassen is calling on the Algerian authorities to help him meet his son, mentioning that he was grateful to them for their assistance and respectful treatment since his arrival to Algeria.