OPINION No. 17/2004 (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

Communication addressed to the Government on 7 May 2004

Concerning: Ansar Mahmood and Sadek Awaed.

The State is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

1. (Same text as paragraph 1 of opinion No. 20/2003.)

2. The Working Group received a communication informing it that 20 named foreigners had been detained in the United States of America in the weeks after 11 September 2001. At the time of the submission of the petition, the source advised that 17 of those persons had already been released. Acting in accordance with its methods of work, the Working Group decided to transmit to the Government only the three cases of persons yet in detention.

3. The Working Group notes with appreciation the information received from the Government in respect of the cases of Mr. Ansar Mahmood, Mr. Sadek Awaed and Mr. Benamar Benatta. (In respect of Mr. Benatta, see opinion No. 18/2004 below.)

4. The Working Group further notes that the Government has informed the Group that Ansar Mahmood and Sadek Awaed were released from detention and deported from the United States on 12 August 2004 and 31 May 2004, respectively.

5. The source confirmed that Ansar Mahmood was released and deported to Pakistan on 12 August 2004 and that Sadek Awaed was released and deported to Egypt in May 2004.

6. Having examined the available information, and without prejudging the nature of the detention, the Working Group decides to file the cases of Ansar Mahmood and Sadek Awaed under the terms of paragraph 17 (a) of its methods of work.

Adopted on 16 September 2004