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[INTERNATIONAL] · United States, Cuba · 6 sources

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Khalid Shaikh Mohammed confessions ruled inadmissible in 9/11 trial

A U.S. military judge has ruled that confessions made by Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, are inadmissible in his upcoming trial. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama determined that Mohammed's 2007 statements to the FBI at Guantánamo Bay were not voluntary.

In his 45-page decision, Schrama cited a continuous cycle of psychological conditioning and severe coercion by the CIA. The judge also found that FBI agents deliberately failed to inform Mohammed of his fundamental rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to consult with an attorney.

The ruling represents a significant setback for federal prosecutors, who had previously described these interrogations as crucial evidence in a case that could carry the death penalty. The trial for Mohammed and three other co-defendants—Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin ‘Atash, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali—is currently scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028, at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base.

Military prosecutors, led by Rear Admiral Aaron C. Rugh, are currently evaluating whether to appeal the decision. The ruling comes as the legal proceedings approach the 25th anniversary of the 2001 attacks.

Entities

Al Qaeda · CIA · FBI · Guantanamo Bay Naval Base · Khalid Shaikh Mohammed · Khalid Sheikh Mohammed · Michael Schrama

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