Bartamaha (Washington):- An American teenager has been reunited with his family after being held in Kuwait for a month because he was allegedly place on the U.S. government’s no-fly list.
Gulet Mohamed, 19, who claims he was beaten and tortured in the Gulf state, was greeted family members at a terminal of Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport.
The Muslim, of Alexandria, Virginia, said it felt great to be back in the U.S. and expressed concern for others who may be in the same situation he was in.
Relief: Gulet Mohamed, 19, hugs his brother Fatah after arriving at Washington’s Dulles International Airport today following his month being held in Kuwait
‘There are probably people out there being tortured like I was, whose voices are not being heard,’ he said.
Mohamed claims he was beaten and tortured while detained by Kuwaiti authorities at the behest of the U.S.
His return home was delayed for weeks because American officials had apparently placed him on the no-fly list, which the Justice Department refused to confirm.
He also had to wait today to get though the border today after the FBI tried to question him without his lawyer present.
But, despite the delay, Mr Mohamed’s family were relieved their anguish might finally end.
Joy: Mr Mohamed, centre, beams with delight as he is surrounded by his family
Concern: Nihad Awad, with CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, left, and Mr Mohamed’s cousins Hani Mohamed, wait for him to finally arrive
His mother Bella Ali hugged her son and thanked God and everyone who had taken up her son’s cause.
His brother, Fatah Mohamed, also thanked God and said his brother ‘was just trying to get closer to his religion.’
‘You’re not going to find anybody who will say anything bad about Gulet,’ he said.
He added that the biggest concern of his family during his brother’s ordeal was that ‘we knew he was in the hands of people who lack principles and morals.’
Questions: Mr Mohamed’s brother Fatah and mother outside the federal courthouse near their home in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday
Mohamed’s reunion with his family was delayed by questioning from authorities at customs after he landed Friday morning.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said lawyers are not routinely granted access to clients, and described Mohamed as uncooperative.
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Source:- Daily Mail.
