US embassy cable - 05CAIRO8143

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Identifier:	05CAIRO8143
Wikileaks:	View 05CAIRO8143 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Cairo
Created:	2005-10-24 08:56:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PTER PHUM EG KWRC
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 008143 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR S/WCI, L/PM, AND NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, EG, KWRC 
SUBJECT: STATUS OF REPATRIATED NLEC SAMI EL-LAITHY 
 
Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Guantanamo detainee Sami El-Laithy, returned by the 
U.S. to Egypt on October 1 after being designated "No Longer 
an Enemy Combatant," was met by Egyptian authorities at the 
airport and taken to hospital.  Within 24 hours, following a 
set of medical tests, El-Laithy was released and returned to 
reside with his family in the Nile Delta province of 
Sharqiya.  Although the GOE is not likely to prosecute him 
and does not consider him a security risk, he remains under 
surveillance. 
 
2. (SBU) El-Laithy has made numerous media appearances since 
his return.  Appearing on October 4 on two of Egypt's 
most-watched evening talk shows, El-Laithy alleged that he 
was subjected to repeated physical and mental torture while 
detained at Guantanamo.  El-Laithy, a paraplegic, even 
claimed that his paralysis was caused by beatings 
administered by his USG captors.  El-Laithy told Reuters in 
an interview published October 21 that he had been well 
treated since his return to Egypt. 
 
3. (SBU) The Embassy will advise the Department of any 
changes in El-Laithy's status. 
 
 
RICCIARDONE