US embassy cable - 05PARIS4805

S E C R E T PARIS 004805 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/CT, EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, FR 
SUBJECT: EX-GTMO DETAINEE RELEASED FROM PRE-TRIAL DETENTION 
 
REF: PARIS 3118 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
(S) Ex-GTMO detainee Imad Achab Kanouni, returned to France 
in July 2004, was released on bail from pre-trial detention 
July 7.  Kanouni is one of seven French ex-GTMO detainees, 
five of whom now remain in police custody.  Kanouni posted 
his home as bail and will be required to check in with his 
local police commissariat weekly.  Terrorism investigating 
judge Jean-Francois Ricard (strictly protect) had previously 
indicated to Poloffs that Kanouni's release was probable 
(reftel) due to the lack of evidence the prosecution had 
against him.  Ricard believed it was in the best interest of 
the prosecution to release Kanouni and drop the charges 
against him in order to avoid hurting the cases against the 
remaining five ex-detainees in custody.  While this recent 
court decision does release Kanouni, the charges have not yet 
been dropped.  Felix de Belloy, Kanouni's attorney, confirmed 
to us the release of his client and indicated that he would 
press for the charges to be dropped, noting he was confident 
that this would eventually happen.  According to Belloy, his 
client lived in Kabul for two years under the Taliban and 
admits to having known and met with terrorists.  However, 
Belloy contends that his client did not participate in their 
activities and that there is insufficient evidence of any 
link between Kanouni and terrorist acts to justify the 
charges. 
STAPLETON