Charges Referred Against Detainee Mohammed Kamin

The Defense Department announced today that charges have been referred against Guantanamo detainee Mohammed Kamin of Afghanistan.

The charges allege that between January and May of 2003, Mohammed Kamin provided material support to terrorism by joining the terrorist organization al Qaeda and receiving training at al Qaeda training camps on making remote detonators for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), in modifying military ammunition, and on use of small arms for attacks against American and Coalition forces.

It is further alleged in the charges that Mohammed Kamin conducted surveillance on U.S. military bases, placed explosive devices under a bridge along the route to Zaina Khail Village in Afghanistan, placed missiles near the Khowst Customs House to launch into a U.S. or Coalition base and installed missiles near Khowst, Afghanistan. The charges also allege that Mohammed Kamin launched the missiles toward Khowst, then occupied by the United States and Coalition armed forces.

The military commissions provide the following protections for the accused: to remain silent and to have no adverse inference drawn from it; to be represented by detailed military counsel, as well as civilian counsel of his own selection and at no expense to the government; to examine all evidence presented to a jury by the prosecution; to confront and cross-examine every witness called by the prosecution; to be present during the presentation of evidence; to have no statements obtained by torture admitted; to obtain evidence and to call witnesses on his own behalf including expert witnesses; to have a military commission panel (jury) of at least five military members determine guilt or innocence by a 2/3 majority; and to appeal to the Court of Military Commission Review, and then seek review through the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The charges are only allegations that the accused has committed offenses under the Military Commissions Act, and the accused remains innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the accused faces up to life in prison.