The Central Intelligence Agency transferred several high-profile prisoners to Guantánamo Bayto await trial in 2003, only to transfer them back into the CIA's network of secret prisons so they would not be entitled to lawyers and access to US courts, the Associated Press reported Aug. 6. Among the suspects reportedly on the September 2003 flight were prominent al-Qaedamembers Ramzi Binalshibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, who supposedly aided in the planning of the 9-11 attacks, and Abd al-Nashiri, who supposedly planned the 2000 USS Cole bombing. A commercial jetliner operated by one of the CIA's several airline front companies removed al-Hawsawi from the "Salt Pit" in Kabul, Afghanistan, transferred alleged 9-11 conspirator Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to "Britelite" in Bucharest, Romania, and picked up the others at a facility in Rabat, Morocco, before landing in Guantánamo Bay.

Sheik Mohamud Ahmed Shurie, information secretary of the Ahlu Sunna (Sufi militia) for Somalia's Banadir region, held a telephone press conference with journalists in Mogadishu to declare war against Hizbul Islam and Harakat al-Shabab Mujahedeen for the coming holy Ramadan month. The Ahlu Suna Waljama'a clerics, African Union troops and the forces of Somalia's transitional government are battling al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam in the Somali capital and south and central regions of the country.

The US Department of Justice on Aug. 5 announced that 14 individuals have been charged with providing money, personnel and services to the Somalia-based designated terrorist organization al-Shabaab. Prosecutors in the Southern District of Alabama, the Southern District of California and the District of Minnesota unsealed four separate indictments accusing the 14 of terrorism violations. Also that day, two of the defendants, Amina Farah Ali and Hawo Mohamed Hassan—both naturalized US citizens—were arrested. (Jurist, Aug. 6)

From the Center for Constitutional Rights, July 30:

A group of 72 Iraqi citizens who allege they were tortured while imprisoned at detention facilities across Iraq can continue with their lawsuit against military contractor L-3 Services, Inc. and a former employee, a federal judge in Maryland ruled Thursday.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on Aug. 4 announced that they will pursue a legal challenge to the Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) program, after being issued a license to represent Anwar al-Awlaqi, a US citizen who is suspected of being a member of al Qaeda in Yemen and was labeled a SDGT last month. Despite receiving the license, the rights groups will continue to challenge the licensing program.

From Amnesty International, Aug. 5:

Amnesty International has condemned attacks on politicians and journalists in the run-up to the presidential election on Aug. 9 and calls on the government to ensure the poll is held in an atmosphere where Rwandans can freely express their views.

China has jailed three Uighur website operators as it clamps down on dissent a year after deadly ethnic riots in Xinjiang, according to reports. An exiled activist group, the Uyghur American Association (UAA), said the three men were sentenced to 10, five and three years respectively. They were identified as Dilshat Perhat, webmaster of Diyarim website; Nureli of Salkin website; and Nijat Azat, of Shabnam. The websites, among the most popular in the Uighur language, were blocked by the Chinese authorities last year. UAA quoted a brother of one of the men saying they were sentenced last week. Officials have not confirmed the charges or the sentences. (BBC News, July 30)

A front-page New York Times story July 30 noted the release from prison of Berivan Sayaca, a 15-year-old Kurdish girl convicted of supporting terrorism by attending a protest rally and sentenced to nearly eight years behind bars. Berivan was freed about 10 months into her sentence after the Turkish Parliament passed a bill reducing the sentences of hundreds of youths, 18 and younger, who had been put on trial and nicknamed the "stone-throwing kids."