Key Facts
- ✓ The UK has agreed to pay a 'substantial sum' to Abu Zubaydah.
- ✓ Abu Zubaydah is a Palestinian Guantanamo detainee jailed since 2002.
- ✓ He is now said not to have belonged to al-Qaeda.
- ✓ He was waterboarded 83 times.
Quick Summary
The United Kingdom has reached a financial settlement with Abu Zubaydah, a Palestinian detainee held at Guantanamo Bay. The agreement resolves a lawsuit centered on allegations of torture that occurred while he was in custody. Abu Zubaydah has been imprisoned since 2002.
Recent information suggests that Abu Zubaydah did not actually belong to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, despite his long detention. The settlement acknowledges the severe mistreatment he suffered, which included being waterboarded 83 times. This legal outcome highlights the ongoing accountability for human rights abuses committed during the early years of the 'war on terror'.
Details of the Settlement
The United Kingdom has agreed to pay a substantial sum to Abu Zubaydah to settle the legal dispute. This resolution brings an end to the lawsuit filed regarding his treatment while in detention. The financial compensation is intended to address the allegations of torture and mistreatment he faced.
Abu Zubaydah, a Saudi-born-and-raised prisoner, has been held in custody since the year 2002. The settlement marks a significant moment in the legal battles surrounding the treatment of detainees captured during the early stages of conflicts in the Middle East.
Allegations of Torture 🚨
The lawsuit centered on the severe physical and psychological abuse endured by Abu Zubaydah. Among the most prominent allegations was the use of waterboarding, a controversial interrogation technique that simulates drowning.
Reports indicate that Abu Zubaydah was subjected to this procedure 83 times. This specific detail underscores the intensity of the interrogation tactics used against him during his time in custody.
Detainee Status and Background
Abu Zubaydah has been described as a Palestinian detainee. He has been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp for over two decades, having been jailed in 2002.
Crucially, it is now said that Abu Zubaydah did not belong to al-Qaeda. This assertion challenges the initial justifications for his detention and the classification of his status as an enemy combatant.
Conclusion
The agreement by the United Kingdom to pay a substantial settlement to Abu Zubaydah represents a formal acknowledgment of the wrongs committed against him. It serves as a resolution to the legal questions surrounding his treatment and the allegations of torture.
While the financial details remain confidential, the settlement closes a chapter in the long-running legal saga of Abu Zubaydah. It highlights the continuing international focus on accountability for torture and the treatment of prisoners taken during the war on terror.
