A/HRC/13/42* page 161 Gender Male Detention Date of the initial detention 31 January 2002 Location of the initial detention Islamabad, Pakistan Grounds of arrest No charges were ever brought against him. The authority(ies) involved in the arrest/detention Islamabad: Abducted by unidentified sources, although American officers dressed as Pakistanis were in the vehicle at the time of arrest. Kandahar: The detention facility was run by the US military. Site(s) held in detention, including sites of possible transit 1. Detained in Islamabad, Pakistan. 2. On 21 February, he was taken to a military airport near Islamabad and handed over to American officers. He was flown to Kandahar, Afghanistan, on an American military plane, along with six other detainees. 3. The detention facility in Kandahar was located next to an airport. 4. In Bagram, Afghanistan, he was held at a remodeled warehouse. 5. On 7 February 2003, he was transferred to Guantanamo Bay. Total period of detention Mr. Begg was detained since January 2002 for nearly three years. Duration of secret detention Three weeks in Islamabad (31 January - 21 February 2002) Guantanamo (February 2003 - January 2005) Conditions and treatment During his detention in Islamabad, he was taken to meet with American and British Intelligence officers in a different venue. He was not beaten and the Pakistan officials indicated that he had been arrested based on an American instruction. During the flight to Kandahar, he was held on the floor in a painful position and received threats from soldiers. He was hooded, shackled and handcuffed. He was hooded and shackled to the floor during the flight to Bagram. The cells had dim light and loud music was played all the time. Religious duties were forbidden as was all communication between detainees; it was thought that they could communicate with each other if they prayed. He was not taken outside except for during a few minutes on some occasions. Since he was considered a “High Value Detainee” (HVD) at Guantanamo Bay, he was held in secret detention in one of the two cells at Camp Echo. The ICRC was denied access to him due to “military necessity”. He was later moved to the “Secret Squirrel” unit, a place where HVD were secretly kept under the custody of the CIA. Judicial proceedings He was denied access to a lawyer or consular services during his detention in Islamabad. His wife filed a writ of habeas corpus to find out his whereabouts but the Government denied the arrest. Date of release