Interview of (UNK) Khadr, Omar Ahmed (24 Feb 2003)
Air Force Office of Special Investigations report of investigative activity 00444030552023
Subject interview of (UNK) Khadr, Omar Ahmed
Date/Place: 24 Feb 2003/Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Interviewers: SA Ft. Belvoir - CITF -- GITMO
OMAR AHMED KHADR, ISN: was interviewed by personnel from the Canadian Delegation at Camp Delta in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Four interviews were conducted (in English, videotaped) between the dates of February 13 and February 16, 2003. On 24 February 2003, Special Agent Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) reviewed all four videotapes. Following is a synopsis of the tapes.
On February 13, Khadr again was placed in the same type of room with a large table and folding chair. The interrogators could be heard during some of the interview. Khadr was difficult to hear. He mumbled and had his head down. Khadr started the interview with a noticeable change in demeanor from the previous day. He would not look at his interviewers. He was provided with food.
The interrogators questioned Khadr concerning his change in demeanor. Khadr said he was "scared" to say something. He then asked his interrogators, "promise you'll protect me from Americans". Khadr also stated he had been tortured by the Americans in Baghram. Khadr said everything he had provided the previous day was a lie. He stated all the information provided in his previous interviews was said only due to the "torture". His interrogators questioned him concerning who he may have spoken to the previous night in his cell. Khadr denied that he talked to anyone and denied that anyone coached him or told him what to say. He covered his eyes and began to cry heavily.
The sound got worse when the interviewers adjusted the air conditioner. There was a large amount of static and for a while, even the interviewers could not be understood. The sound improved some and Khadr removed his shirt to show the interviewers the wounds on his back and stomach. Khadr stated, "I lost my eyes", indicating that when he was shot, it affected his vision. Khadr put his head back in his hands and cried heavily. The interrogators left him at this point. The interview was short, (less than an hour).
On Saturday, February 15, the interview of Khadr took place in a room with a couch. Khadr sat on the couch with his head down. He declined the food that was offered to him. Khadr said he was willing to talk and a third interrogator entered the room. The interrogator told Khadr that they were disappointing in "yesterday". The Canadian also told Khadr that on Thursday, Khadr had indicated he wanted to help Canada.
The Canadians asked Khadr about his brother Abdul Rahman Khadr. Khadr knew that his brother had been captured. They then discussed his father, saying, "we know who he is...your father is a lost cause". The Canadians told Khadr that his father is committed to what he is doing. Khadr responded with, "he didn't do anything". Questioning then centered on Khadr's oldest brother, Abdullah, and his possible whereabouts. They that Khadr's mother's passport had expired and they would help her renew it if she would go to an embassy. They asked about the whereabouts of Khadr's sister, Zayneb and discussed Zayneb's daughter, Sofia, and her medical condition. Khadr denied knowing where any of his family is presently located. Khadr continued to keep his head down and talk quietly. The delegation told Khadr that "your situation is different and we both know why".
Khadr continued to deny previous statements he had made about his father. He said the family was in Afghanistan only because it is a good Muslim country.
Khadr last saw his mother in Bermal, an area of Afhganistan. The house the family owned in Peshawar, Pakistan is now empty.
The interviewers took a break. Khadr was allowed to use the restroom and pray. The interview then continued. At this point, Khadr did accept and drink a can of soda. Khadr denied talking to many of the detainees around him. He did say he talks to a Saudi, but not too frequently. He again denied being told what to say by other detainees.
Khadr discussed school and indicated he finished the 8th grade. He likes school and horse back riding. He spent most of the latter years traveling between Jalalabad, Kabul, and Peshawar.
The Canadians told Khadr that a "few months ago", his sister, Zayneb, called the Canadian embassy in Islamabad trying to get passports. She made inquiries but did not leave call back numbers.
Khadr discussed an incident when he was with his father and family members and they were stopped by the Pakistani police. Khadr was difficult to understand, but he indicated that his father was not arrested, and was released after a scuffle. The family never had problems traveling between Afghanistan and Pakistan. They would stay at the "El Hayeim" (phonetic) Hotel in Islamabad, when they were in Pakistan. Khadr has never been to Mazar-e-Sharif. He only stayed in Kabul, Jalalabad, and Kandahar. His father's organization, "HEP" (Health Education Program) had never been associated with Mazar-e-Sharif. It does run an orphanage in Jalalabad.
Khadr's uncle (NFI) never traveled form Toronto, Canada, to Afhganistan or Pakistan. His grandparents did travel once to meet his mother in Pakistan and they visited with the family. Khadr confirmed that his mother has a sister in Bahrain. Khadr also confirmed that his father had a brother, "Khamel" who used to live somewhere in the United States. Khadr believes that Khamel is deceased.
Khadr was in Logar, Afghanistan when he was captured. He was staying with "bad people". The were "bad" because they were "killing Americans". Khadr denied training with mines to kill Americans. He was going to attack the Northern Alliance. Khadr's father dropped him off at this house because it was safe for him to travel with his father. His father told him he would be back for him. At first Khadr said all the people at the house were Afghanis. He then stated there were two Arabs in the group. It was the Arabs who told Khadr and the Afghanis to fight to the death. The Arabs shot at the Americans, then the Americans shot back. Khadr did not want to fight, "I had no choice".
Khadr was shown some photographs (unknown of whom), none of which he was able to identify.
Khadr had heard his sister and brother had an internet address, but he does not know what it is.
Khadr asked the Canadians for any letters from his grandmother. They did not have any.
At the end of the interview, Khadr ate some food which was provided to him by the interviewers. This interview lasted approximately 2 hours.
On Sunday, February 16, a fourth interview was conducted. Khadr was provided with McDonalds, which he ate. Khadr stated he would be seeing a doctor on Monday for his gunshot wounds which were bothering him.
Khadr was questioned about "Sheik Issa". Khadr stated that Sheik Issa was not the Imam of the mosque in Kabul. Sheik Issa was not allowed to issue a fatwa.
HEP collected donations at the mosque in Canada. The money was moved via bank accounts. Khadr did not know who had access to the accounts. The family used a bank in Peshawar, called the Habib Bank. Khadr did not know if the money from Toronto could be transferred to the Habib Bank (directly from Toronto to Peshawar, or if there was another route). Khadr believes that his father's disability check from Canada goes to the grandmother, who has access to an account. He did not know how his father got the money from either the account or his grandmother. Khadr's mother has transported cash from Canada to Pakistan when the family needs money.
Khadr believes that because he is a "foreigner" (Canadian), some of the other detainees give him a hard time. He feels that it is an issue of customs. Khadr did not know any of the other detainees prior to their incarceration, nor did he believe that any of the other detainees are trying to "help" him in any manner.
Khadr did not have access to the internet while he was in Kabul. The house did have a phone, but in order to call Pakistan, he had to go through a central exchange.
Khadr's grandmother is familiar with HEP. Khadr does not know if she or his grandfather have ever collected money for HEP. They never met Sheik Issa.
Khadr was shown more pictures. One was allegedly of Sheik Issa.
The Canadians asked Khadr about his sister Zayneb and her first husband who was Egyptian. Khadr stated the brother-in-law was arrested in Pakistan because of the Egyptian embassy bombing.
At this point, Khadr's demeanor started to change. He stated he is afraid of the torture by the United States. He denied killing anyone. The Canadian interrogator began to get more confrontational and stated that Canada cannot do anything for him Khadr began to cry and was crying when the interrogators left.
The interview lasted approximately 2 hours.
(All times were approximate, the interviews were not timed.)