Former Guantánamo detainees in Kazakhstan face imminent forced deportation and escalating threats.
Two former Guantánamo Bay detainees, Sabri Al-Qurshi and Muhammad Al-Jubari, find themselves in a life-threatening crisis in Kazakhstan. Resettled there in December 2014 under a U.S.-Kazakh agreement, they have endured years of systemic harassment, movement restrictions, and legal uncertainty. Now, with escalating threats against them and Muhammed’s family, and Kazakh authorities preparing to forcibly deport them, their lives are in imminent peril.A Decade of Hardship and Statelessness
After their release from Guantánamo, Al-Qurshi and Al-Jubari were sent to Kazakhstan as part of a U.S.-brokered resettlement deal. Instead of finding refuge, they encountered harsh movement restrictions, constant police harassment, bearing, and a lack of legal status. Without the right to work, receive family visits, or build a stable life, they were left in a state of constant survival.
For nearly a decade, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided them with housing, healthcare, and a modest stipend. But by the end of 2024, the ICRC withdrew its support, leaving the men destitute. The Kazakh government has refused to offer assistance, and their situation has reached a crisis point.
Broken Promises: U.S. and Kazakh Governments Abandon Responsibility
In 2023, U.S. Embassy officials met with Al-Qurshi and Al-Jubari, acknowledging the untenable nature of their situation and pledging to pressure Kazakhstan for refugee status. Following this, the men applied for legal recognition as refugees.
However, on February 4, 2025, their applications were rejected. Legal counsel informed them they had one month to appeal the decision or they will be deported, and they have filed their appeals. Despite this, the threats against them continue to escalate, making their ability to remain in Kazakhstan ever more uncertain.
Escalating Threats: Families Targeted, Ultimatums Issued
On February 14, 2025, agents from Kazakhstan’s secret service confronted Muhammad Al-Jubari, giving him just 10 days to leave the country or face having his child taken away. The threats did not end there. The same agents approached his wife, a Kazakh national, instructing her to divorce him immediately or risk losing her children and having her business shut down. They were given an ultimatum set to expire on February 16.
This coercion and intimidation strongly suggest that the Kazakh government is preparing to forcibly deport both men, in clear violation of international human rights law. Forced deportation could expose them to severe risks, including persecution, imprisonment, or worse, in countries where they may face further danger.
U.S. Abdicating Responsibility
Despite the U.S. government’s central role in the resettlement of these men, the U.S. embassy has refused to intervene. After being alerted to their plight by the ICRC, the embassy stated it would not involve itself.
This shocking abdication of responsibility leaves Al-Qurshi and Al-Jubari vulnerable to deportation, abuse, and even possible disappearance. The U.S. government is directly responsible for their resettlement in Kazakhstan, yet, when their safety is on the line, Washington has washed its hands of the matter.
Please, We Need to Act to Help These Men
The lives of Al-Qurshi and Al-Jubari are in imminent danger, and urgent action is needed to prevent their deportation and ensure their safety. Any suggestions for advocacy, legal support, or contacts that can intervene in this critical moment are urgently needed.
Best regards,
Mansoor Adayfi
