Completion of First Guantanamo Periodic Review Board
January 09, 2014

The Department of Defense announced today the results of the first review conducted under Executive Order 13567 by the periodic review board (PRB) for Guantanamo detainee Mahmud Abd Al Aziz Al Mujahid.

By consensus, the PRB members found that continued law of war detention is no longer necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the United States and that Mujahid is therefore eligible for transfer subject to appropriate security and humane treatment conditions.

In accordance with the executive order, the PRB recommended conditions relating to Mujahid’s transfer. These conditions are consistent with those imposed for the transfer of other Yemeni nationals who are currently in the “conditional detention” category – specifically, that the security situation improves in Yemen, that an appropriate rehabilitation program becomes available, or that an appropriate third country resettlement option becomes available.

In March 2011, the president directed the Department of Defense to establish the PRB process to review whether continued detention of certain detainees held at Guantanamo Bay remains necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to U.S. national security. The PRB process is a discretionary, administrative interagency process intended to assist the executive branch in making informed decisions as to whether detainees held at Guantanamo Bay should remain in law of war detention. The PRB process expands upon many of the features of previous review processes.

More information about the PRB process, as well as unclassified information regarding the review of Mujahid’s detention has been posted to the Periodic Review Secretariat website at: www.prs.mil. Additional information regarding Mujahid’s review, along with information regarding future reviews, will also be posted to the website.