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US man missing in Yemen prison contacts wife for first time in months US man imprisoned in Yemen makes emotional plea: 'They're gonna kill me in here'
(about 1 hour later)
An American citizen, who has been missing inside the prison system of Yemen for seven months, has made contact with his wife in a furtive phone call during which he alleged that his US-allied captors are torturing him and may kill him.An American citizen, who has been missing inside the prison system of Yemen for seven months, has made contact with his wife in a furtive phone call during which he alleged that his US-allied captors are torturing him and may kill him.
Sharif Mobley, 30, whose lawyers consider him to be disappeared, managed to call his wife in Philadelphia on Thursday, the first time they had spoken since February and a rare independent proof he is alive since a brief phone call with his mother in July.Sharif Mobley, 30, whose lawyers consider him to be disappeared, managed to call his wife in Philadelphia on Thursday, the first time they had spoken since February and a rare independent proof he is alive since a brief phone call with his mother in July.
In the 10-minute call with Nzinga Islam, which she believes was not sanctioned by his jailers, Mobley pleaded to see his lawyer and said he was being physically abused. “He said, ‘I’m being tortured.’ He even said, ‘They’re gonna kill me in here,’” Islam said.In the 10-minute call with Nzinga Islam, which she believes was not sanctioned by his jailers, Mobley pleaded to see his lawyer and said he was being physically abused. “He said, ‘I’m being tortured.’ He even said, ‘They’re gonna kill me in here,’” Islam said.
In a whispered tone, Mobley reported that his captors are “spraying gas into my eyes,” insufficiently feeding him, and forcing him to drink water out of bottles that had contained urine, Islam said.In a whispered tone, Mobley reported that his captors are “spraying gas into my eyes,” insufficiently feeding him, and forcing him to drink water out of bottles that had contained urine, Islam said.
“He hasn’t seen his lawyer, they’re not allowing anyone to see him,” she told the Guardian in a rare interview.“He hasn’t seen his lawyer, they’re not allowing anyone to see him,” she told the Guardian in a rare interview.
Islam, 26, said she believes her husband was permitted to call her thanks to a sympathetic guard. Addressing a central mystery in Mobley’s ordeal, a voice Islam believes belonged to the guard said they were on a military base on Haddah Street in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. Reprieve, an international human rights group representing Mobley, said it believes the base is used by the Central Security Forces, one of Yemen’s numerous security agencies.Islam, 26, said she believes her husband was permitted to call her thanks to a sympathetic guard. Addressing a central mystery in Mobley’s ordeal, a voice Islam believes belonged to the guard said they were on a military base on Haddah Street in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. Reprieve, an international human rights group representing Mobley, said it believes the base is used by the Central Security Forces, one of Yemen’s numerous security agencies.
Mobley himself, however, “had no idea where he was,” Islam said.Mobley himself, however, “had no idea where he was,” Islam said.
Mobley’s attorneys reported their last contact with their client was at Sana’a’s central prison on 27 February, when they were able to speak to him through a fence. Since then, they have been unable to meet with or access their client, whom Yemeni authorities have charged with murder, a capitol offense, stemming from Mobley’s murky abduction off the streets of Sana’a in 2010.Mobley’s attorneys reported their last contact with their client was at Sana’a’s central prison on 27 February, when they were able to speak to him through a fence. Since then, they have been unable to meet with or access their client, whom Yemeni authorities have charged with murder, a capitol offense, stemming from Mobley’s murky abduction off the streets of Sana’a in 2010.
It is rare for the United States to permit a foreign country to try one of its nationals, particularly one with a human rights record as dubious as Yemen’s. But the role of the US in Mobley’s case has been unclear from the start.It is rare for the United States to permit a foreign country to try one of its nationals, particularly one with a human rights record as dubious as Yemen’s. But the role of the US in Mobley’s case has been unclear from the start.
Mobley, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Philadelphia, had come to Sana’a with his family in 2008 to study Arabic and Islam. Interviews the Washington Post conducted with some of Mobley’s friends and associates from New Jersey indicate he grew increasingly religious and political in his 20s.Mobley, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Philadelphia, had come to Sana’a with his family in 2008 to study Arabic and Islam. Interviews the Washington Post conducted with some of Mobley’s friends and associates from New Jersey indicate he grew increasingly religious and political in his 20s.
Cori Crider, a lawyer with Reprieve, said Mobley “spoke a couple of times” in Yemen with Anwar al-Awlaki, a US citizen and preacher whom the Obama administration considered a senior figure within al-Qaida’s local affiliate. Crider categorically denied her client’s involvement in terrorism, saying Mobley wanted guidance from Awlaki, who had been a well-known preacher in the US, about remaining in Yemen after Islam had a difficult pregnancy.Cori Crider, a lawyer with Reprieve, said Mobley “spoke a couple of times” in Yemen with Anwar al-Awlaki, a US citizen and preacher whom the Obama administration considered a senior figure within al-Qaida’s local affiliate. Crider categorically denied her client’s involvement in terrorism, saying Mobley wanted guidance from Awlaki, who had been a well-known preacher in the US, about remaining in Yemen after Islam had a difficult pregnancy.
Over Christmas 2009, a man with ties to al-Qaida’s Yemen branch attempted to detonate a plane heading from Amsterdam to Detroit. Fearing Yemen was about to become dangerous for them, the Mobley family went to the embassy to file paperwork for a return to the US.Over Christmas 2009, a man with ties to al-Qaida’s Yemen branch attempted to detonate a plane heading from Amsterdam to Detroit. Fearing Yemen was about to become dangerous for them, the Mobley family went to the embassy to file paperwork for a return to the US.
But on 26 January 2010, eight armed and masked gunmen in two vans attempted to apprehend Mobley as he took a break from shopping in Sana’a. They shot him twice in the leg when he attempted to run.But on 26 January 2010, eight armed and masked gunmen in two vans attempted to apprehend Mobley as he took a break from shopping in Sana’a. They shot him twice in the leg when he attempted to run.
That evening, according to a Reprieve court filing, 15 to 20 soldiers and policemen raided the Mobley family’s home, at one point holding Islam and her children at gunpoint. When Islam went to the US embassy to report the incident the next morning, she saw “on the premises the Yemeni who had supervised the raid,” bearing an official embassy badge.That evening, according to a Reprieve court filing, 15 to 20 soldiers and policemen raided the Mobley family’s home, at one point holding Islam and her children at gunpoint. When Islam went to the US embassy to report the incident the next morning, she saw “on the premises the Yemeni who had supervised the raid,” bearing an official embassy badge.
Within days of Mobley’s apprehension, US interrogators, identifying themselves as “Matt from FBI and Khan from DoD [the Department of Defense],” according to the Reprieve filing, questioned Mobley during his convalescence about suspected ties to terrorism. They allegedly informed him “he had no constitutional rights” and interviewed him about six times over three to four weeks.Within days of Mobley’s apprehension, US interrogators, identifying themselves as “Matt from FBI and Khan from DoD [the Department of Defense],” according to the Reprieve filing, questioned Mobley during his convalescence about suspected ties to terrorism. They allegedly informed him “he had no constitutional rights” and interviewed him about six times over three to four weeks.
But neither the US nor Yemen brought terrorism charges against Mobley. Yemen instead accused him of murdering a guard and shooting another during what they describe as an escape attempt, barely a month after Mobley’s shooting.But neither the US nor Yemen brought terrorism charges against Mobley. Yemen instead accused him of murdering a guard and shooting another during what they describe as an escape attempt, barely a month after Mobley’s shooting.
Reprieve believes the US was complicit in Mobley’s original detention. “I believe the US hoped to shake him down without the pesky obstacles of Miranda warnings, rules against mistreatment, and what have you,” Crider said.Reprieve believes the US was complicit in Mobley’s original detention. “I believe the US hoped to shake him down without the pesky obstacles of Miranda warnings, rules against mistreatment, and what have you,” Crider said.
It is unclear if Mobley’s prosecution can continue. Last week, Mobley missed his fifth pre-trial court date since February. The judge in the case has ordered Yemen’s attorney general to produce Mobley, without success. During a hearing in August, a representative of Mobley’s alleged victim asserted that Mobley is now in the custody of the Specialised Criminal Court, which human-rights groups consider to be abusive.It is unclear if Mobley’s prosecution can continue. Last week, Mobley missed his fifth pre-trial court date since February. The judge in the case has ordered Yemen’s attorney general to produce Mobley, without success. During a hearing in August, a representative of Mobley’s alleged victim asserted that Mobley is now in the custody of the Specialised Criminal Court, which human-rights groups consider to be abusive.
Reprieve has said Mobley’s disappearances began before counsel could introduce evidence into court indicating US complicity in his capture.Reprieve has said Mobley’s disappearances began before counsel could introduce evidence into court indicating US complicity in his capture.
Yemen has denied that Mobley is missing at all, and has claimed for months that Mobley has not been moved from his Sana’a prison. Yet when the Guardian asked if Mobley has been moved to a military base, a spokesman for the Yemeni embassy in Washington DC, Mohammed Albasha, said only: “He is detained in Sana’a and legal procedures will take its course.”Yemen has denied that Mobley is missing at all, and has claimed for months that Mobley has not been moved from his Sana’a prison. Yet when the Guardian asked if Mobley has been moved to a military base, a spokesman for the Yemeni embassy in Washington DC, Mohammed Albasha, said only: “He is detained in Sana’a and legal procedures will take its course.”
For months, the US State Department has deferred answering any questions about Mobley, claiming that to do so would violate his privacy. Yet US officials claim to have seen him and vouched for his health.For months, the US State Department has deferred answering any questions about Mobley, claiming that to do so would violate his privacy. Yet US officials claim to have seen him and vouched for his health.
In July, William Lesh, an official with the US embassy in Sana’a, told Reprieve that a visit at a location Lesh would not reveal showed Mobley “in good health with no major complaints.” Lesh wrote in a letter dated 25 July that Mobley had requested a conversation with his Yemeni attorney but “did not wish us to contact anyone else.”In July, William Lesh, an official with the US embassy in Sana’a, told Reprieve that a visit at a location Lesh would not reveal showed Mobley “in good health with no major complaints.” Lesh wrote in a letter dated 25 July that Mobley had requested a conversation with his Yemeni attorney but “did not wish us to contact anyone else.”
Yemen is a critical counter-terrorism ally of the United States. It permits drone strikes by the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command, while the US trains and underwrites Yemeni security institutions. Both the Central Security Forces and the National Security Bureau, which operates the Specialised Criminal Court, receive US funding, according to the International Crisis Group.Yemen is a critical counter-terrorism ally of the United States. It permits drone strikes by the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command, while the US trains and underwrites Yemeni security institutions. Both the Central Security Forces and the National Security Bureau, which operates the Specialised Criminal Court, receive US funding, according to the International Crisis Group.
Lisa Monaco, Barack Obama’s senior counter-terrorism adviser, last visited Yemeni president Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi on 6 September, a month after speaking with him via telephone. During those conversations, Monaco underscored US support for Yemen, according to White House summaries. In announcing the expansion of his war against the Islamic State (Isis), Obama last week cited Yemen as a model for future US military actions in Iraq and Syria.Lisa Monaco, Barack Obama’s senior counter-terrorism adviser, last visited Yemeni president Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi on 6 September, a month after speaking with him via telephone. During those conversations, Monaco underscored US support for Yemen, according to White House summaries. In announcing the expansion of his war against the Islamic State (Isis), Obama last week cited Yemen as a model for future US military actions in Iraq and Syria.
The State Department would not respond to questions from the Guardian about Mobley’s treatment and possible transfer. It instead issued a statement, which read: “The protection of US citizens abroad is one our highest priorities. Due to privacy considerations, we cannot comment further at this time.”The State Department would not respond to questions from the Guardian about Mobley’s treatment and possible transfer. It instead issued a statement, which read: “The protection of US citizens abroad is one our highest priorities. Due to privacy considerations, we cannot comment further at this time.”
After the brief phone call with her husband, Islam said she attempted to enlist the help of the State Department, as she has repeatedly during her husband’s seven-month incommunicado period. Yet Islam said US diplomats have given her rote and limited responses, without any evident action.After the brief phone call with her husband, Islam said she attempted to enlist the help of the State Department, as she has repeatedly during her husband’s seven-month incommunicado period. Yet Islam said US diplomats have given her rote and limited responses, without any evident action.
“I imagined this phone call many a time in my head,” said Islam, who attempted to tell Sharif that their eldest daughter has begun the second grade.“I imagined this phone call many a time in my head,” said Islam, who attempted to tell Sharif that their eldest daughter has begun the second grade.
“But I imagined that he would be [saying], ‘Oh my God, I miss you, how are you, I love you’ and all, but it was clearly the opposite. He was basically begging for help.”“But I imagined that he would be [saying], ‘Oh my God, I miss you, how are you, I love you’ and all, but it was clearly the opposite. He was basically begging for help.”