"Face of indefinite detention" dies at Guantanamo
A detainee who was found dead over the weekend at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was identified as Adnan Farhan Abdul Latif, 32, of Yemen.
U.S. Southern Command released his name Tuesday after notifying his family. The detainee was found unresponsive Saturday afternoon during a routine check, Southern Command said. Lifesaving measures were performed, but the detainee died at the hospital.
Latif had been detained at Guantanamo since January 2002 and had lost legal challenges to his indefinite detention.
In June, appeals from him and six other detainees contesting their open-ended custody were turned aside by the Supreme Court.
A federal judge had ordered Latif's release, but the appeals court subsequently concluded that he was part of the al Qaeda terror group and that the government could detain him indefinitely.
His lawyers say he went to Afghanistan and Pakistan for medical treatment for a head injury, but the U.S. military - without revealing too many specifics publicly - said he was there to train as a terrorist in a remote al Qaeda camp.
The Center for Constitutional Rights, which has provided legal services to Guantanamo detainees, released a statement blasting the Obama administration and calling Latif the "face of indefinite detention."
"President Obama’s Justice Department knew he was innocent but appealed a district court order directing his release rather than send him home to Yemen. The president has imposed a moratorium on all transfers to Yemen, which is why more than half of the remaining detainees are Yemenis," the statement said. "Adnan Latif was held indefinitely and ultimately for life because of his Yemeni citizenship, not his conduct."
An autopsy was conducted, Southern Command said Tuesday, though it will be some time before the results are known.
The cause of death is under investigation. Suicide has not been ruled out, according to Southern Command Sgt. Shanda De Anda.
Considered a foot soldier and one of Osama bin Laden's Yemeni bodyguards, Latif is mostly known for his legal fight for his freedom.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
This news saddened me. Another needless death. Violation of human rights. I wonder where are the champions of human rights now.
US is in NO need a president who runs after money. US needs a president who is concerned about the welfare of people and is honest. Alas, none of them are there.
Another needless death at Gitmo!!! He probably died from being tortured but this nobody talks about! Another day in the life of the C.I.A. We need a level-headed President with moral principles, but we won't get one at any time in the near future with either Mitt Romney or Barack Obama!!!