Guantanamo Bay Timeline

January 11, 2007, marks the fifth anniversary of the first detainees arriving at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Below is a timeline of major events related to the controversial decision to hold prisoners captured in the global anti-terror operations at the military base.

2002

January 11, 2002

First group of 20 detainees arrives at Guantanamo Bay’s Camp X-Ray, where they are housed in open-air cages with concrete floors. The International Committee of the Red Cross makes its first visit six days later.

January 18, 2002

President Bush decides detainees' standing as terrorists disqualifies them from prisoner-of-war protection under the Geneva conventions.

January 22, 2002

After a Navy photo is released showing detainees in goggles and masks, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld defends the detentions of "committed terrorists."

January 27, 2002

Vice President Cheney calls the detainees "the worst of a very bad lot. They are very dangerous. They are devoted to killing millions of Americans."

February 12, 2002

U.S. officials say they envision a long-term prison camp on the island.

February 19, 2002

Center for Constitutional Rights files Rasul v. Bush, a habeas petition, in the D.C. circuit court on behalf of David Hicks, Shafiq Rasul and Asif Iqbal.

February 21, 2002

Federal judge dismisses a challenge to the detentions.

February 27, 2002

Almost two-thirds of detainees go on a hunger strike to protest a rule against turbans in the first organized act of defiance. U.S. officials decide to allow the turbans.

March 21, 2002

The Bush administration announces new military tribunal regulations.

April 25, 2002

Construction of the new 410-bed Camp Delta is completed.

April 28, 2002

Detainees are moved from Camp X-Ray to Camp Delta, a more permanent detention center.

June 11, 2002

Yasser Hamdi files a writ of habeas corpus.

September 20, 2002

Army Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. assigned as commander, Joint Task Force - Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

October 27, 2002

Four detainees -- three Afghans and a Pakistani -- are released.

December 31, 2002

By December 31, 5 detainees are transferred out of the facility.

2003

March 11, 2003

Federal appeals court rules that the detainees have no legal rights in the United States.

See also: Read the Ruling

May 9, 2003

Guantanamo hits its peak population of 680. (All told, the camp has processed 773 detainees, but 680 is the largest number of detainees there at one time.)

July 3, 2003

Bush designates six suspected al Qaeda terrorists eligible for military tribunals -- the first since World War II.

September 2003

Arrests become public of two translators and a Muslim chaplain who worked at Guantanamo on charges relating to alleged espionage and improper use of classified documents. The case against the chaplain later unravels.

October 9, 2003

The Red Cross issues a public statement noting "deterioration in the psychological health of a large number of detainees."

November 10, 2003

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the Guantanamo case.

December 3, 2003

Australian detainee David Hicks becomes the first prisoner to be given a lawyer.

December 31, 2003

By December 31, 83 detainees transferred out of the facility.

2004

January 12, 2004

Five military lawyers assigned to defend detainees say they plan to tell the Supreme Court that some of the rules drawn up for the military tribunals are unconstitutional.

March 22, 2004

Department of Defense announces that Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, Commander, Joint Task Force - Guantanamo, United States Southern Command, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is moving to Deputy Commander for Detainee Operations, Combined Joint Task Force - 7/Multinational Force -- Iraq

March 2004

Major Jay Hood becomes the commander of Joint Task Force - Guantanamo.

April 20, 2004

Supreme Court hears arguments on the Guantanamo detentions.

June 28, 2004

Supreme Court rules 6-3 in Rasul v. Bush that Guantanamo Bay detainees can use federal court to challenge their captivity.

See also: Read the Supreme Court Opinions

July 7, 2004

In response to the decision, the Pentagon creates special military panels (Combatant Status Review Tribunals) to determine each detainees "enemy combatant" status.

See also: Read the Defense Dept. Order

August 13, 2004

Combatant Status Review Tribunals (CSRTs) start for the detainees. The tribunal involves three officers who present the unclassified summary evidence against the detainee and question him about his role in events. The three judge panel then decides whether the detainee is an enemy combatant or if he is releasable.

August 24, 2004

First military commission is begun.

August 30, 2004

CCR attorney is the first civilian attorney to meet with detainees at Guantanamo.

November 8, 2004

U.S. District Judge James Robertson orders the Pentagon to halt the trial of detainee Salim Ahmed Hamdan who allegedly worked as Osama Bin Laden's driver, saying the military commissions are unlawful and cannot continue in their current form.

December 31, 2004

By December 31, 114 detainees have been transferred out of the facility for the year.

2005

March 29, 2005

The CSRT process is complete. 558 detainees completed the process; 38 were judged as No Longer Enemy Combatants and eligible for release.

See also: Read the CSRT Document

May 2005

Riots break out internationally over alleged abuse of the Koran.

July 15, 2005

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court unanimously upholds President Bush's powers to create military commissions to try Hamdan, overturning Judge Robertson's November 8 order.

November 7, 2005

The Supreme Court announces it will hear Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.

November 10, 2005

U.S. Senate votes 49-42 to approve the Graham Amendment, which does not give the detainees the right to file habeas corpus petitions.

November 14, 2005

District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly blocks the Pentagon from resuming Hicks's military commission proceeding until the Supreme Court rules on its consitutionality in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.

December 30, 2005

DTA is signed into law by President Bush.

December 31, 2005

54 detainees transferred out of the facility for the year.

2006

February 15, 2006

UN Report Recommends Closure of Guantanamo.

See also: Read the UN Report

March 28, 2006

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld

March 31, 2006

Rear Admiral Harry B. Harris takes command of Joint Task Force - Guantanamo.

April 19, 2006

The Department of Defense releases the names of 558 people who have been held at one time at Guantanamo Bay.

May 18, 2006

Two detainees attempt suicide. A riot breaks out in reaction to the event.

May 28, 2006

The Department of Defense says 75 prisoners at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were on a hunger strike joining a few who have refused food and been force-fed since August 2005, a military official said.

June 10, 2006

Saudi Arabians Mani Shaman Turki al-Habardi al-Utaybi, 30, and Yasser Talal al-Zahrani, 22, and Ali Abdullah Ahmed of Yemen, who was 29 or 30, die by apparent suicide.

June 29, 2006

Supreme Court rules 5-3 that the military commission system for Guantanamo Bay violates U.S. and international law, and that the Geneva Conventions apply to the detainees.

August 24, 2006

Murat Kurnaz released. (In January 2005, U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens Green criticized the military for ignoring evidence in Kurnaz's favor and ruled that his detention was illegal. Her ruling was stayed while the government appealed.)

September 6, 2006

14 High Value detainees are transferred to Guantanamo from secret sites.

September 26, 2006

International Committee of the Red Cross sends a delegation to Guantanamo to meet with the 14 newly transferred prisoners.

September 28, 2006

Newly crafted Military Commission Act passes Congress.

October 17, 2006

President Bush signs the Military Commissions into law.

October 31, 2006

John Bellinger gives a speech to the London School of Economics on holding detainees in the war on terror.

See also: Read Bellinger's Speech

November 17, 2006

U.S. military announces a plan to build a new compound on the base to hold the military commission proceedings.

November 17, 2006

Final three detainees ruled to be No Longer Enemy Combatants are released to Albania.

December 7, 2006

First detainees are transferred to the newly-constructed Camp Six

December 13, 2006

Judge Robertson dismisses Hamdan habeas corpus case citing lack of jurisdiction due to MCA legislation, setting up an appeal to the Supreme Court.

December 31, 2006

114 detainees transferred out of the facility for the year (including the three who died of apparent suicides).

2007

January 18, 2007

Department of Defense announces the creation of the Military Commissions Manual.

March 9, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Abu Faraj Al Libi.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 9, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Ramzi Binalshibh.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 10, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

See also: Transcript of Tribunal

March 12, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Tawfiq Bin Attash.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 13, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Mohamed Farik Bin Amin Zubair.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 14, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Abd Al Nashiri. He claims torture made him confess to terrorist activities.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 17, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Ahmad Khalfan Ghailani.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 20, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 21, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Hawsawi

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 26, 2007

Australian David M. Hicks pleaded guilty to one charge of material support for terrorism during a brief military hearing.

See also: David Hicks Pleads Guilty

March 26, 2007

AbdulMalik Abdul-Jabbar, a Kenyan, is transferred to Guantanamo Bay, marking the first time since September 2004 that a detainee has been directly transferred to Guantanamo.

March 27, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Abu Zubaida

See also: Tribunal Transcript

March 30, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Ammar al Baluchi

See also: Tribunal Transcript

April 4, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Hambali

See also: Tribunal Transcript

April 15, 2007

Combatant Status Review Tribunal held for Majid Khan.

See also: Tribunal Transcript

April 24, 2007

Military Commission charges referred for Omar Khadr.

See also: Charge Sheet

April 27, 2007

High Value Detainee, Abd al Hadi Al Iraqi, transferred from CIA custody to Guantanamo Bay.

See also: Bio for al Iraqi

May 19, 2007

Department of Defense announces the transfer of Australian David Hicks to Australian custody

See also: DoD Release Statement

May 30, 2007

A Saudi detainee committs suicide in Camp Five.

2008

June 5, 2008

Five of the high value detainees at Guantanamo who were involved planning the September 11th attacks are arraigned at Guantanamo.

June 12, 2008

The United States Supreme Court rules 5-4 on Boumediene v. Bush and Al Odah v. United States that detainees at Guantanamo Bay should have a right to challenge their detention in US Federal Courts through habeas corpus petitions

June 30, 2008

Military Commission Charges sworn against Abd al Rahim Al-Nashiri