Foreign Affairs
Freed Gitmo Detainee Turned ISIS Bomber Received $1.2 Million In Gov’t Benefits
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An Islamic State fighter who carried out a suicide attack against an army base in Iraq this week was a former Guantanamo Bay detainee who was released in 2004 and given $1.2 million in government funds in compensation after his release.
Ronald Fiddler, who converted to Islam and became Jamal al-Harith, is a British ISIS fighter who smiled for the camera before bombing coalition forces in Mosul.
But look how happy he is! https://t.co/2FQpbAJhHm
— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) February 22, 2017
Known to his comrades as Abu-Zakariya al-Britani, he reportedly joined ISIS in 2014.
He was identified by his family after the attack on the base in Mosul. “It is him, I can tell by his smile,” Harith’s brother Leon Jameson said looking at the images released by ISIS. “If it is true then I’ve lost a brother, so another family (member) gone.”
Harith was arrested in Afghanistan because locals believed him to be a British spy. After he was recovered by American forces, he was detained at the request of the British government over concerns that he had joined up with Islamic militants.
He was released after lobbying the government of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Harith was given compensation in response to reports that he had been mistreated during his time at Guantanamo Bay.
The attack on coalition forces in Mosul was carried out using an explosive-laden vehicle.
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