Mohammed al-Qahtani

- Tried to gain entry into the U.S. in August, 2001
- Was to be the 20th hijacker
- Returned to Afghanistan after being refused entry into the U.S.
- Charges against him were dropped on May 9, 2008
- Charges dropped without prejudice, which means they could be filed again at a later timeBBC: Key 9/11 suspects charges dropped (May 13, 2008)

Mohammed al-Qahtani was among the six terrorist suspects who were formally indicted on February 11, 2008, for war crimes in connection with the 9-11 terrorist attacks. al-Qahtani was allegedly the "20th hijacker," the last of the group to be recruited. On May 9, 2008, charges against al-Qahtani were dismissed without prejudice.BBC: Key 9/11 suspects charges dropped (May 13, 2008)
On January 14, 2009, Susan J. Crawford, the top Bush Administration official responsible for determining whether detainees at Guantanamo Bay should be tried, told The Washington Post that the interrogation techniques used on al-Quanti "met the legal definition of torture."Washington Post: Detainee Tortured, Says U.S. Official (January 14, 2009)
The Evidence

Immigration authorities in Orlando, Florida, denied al-Qahtani entry into the U.S. in August of 2001. He had $2,400 in cash, no return ticket and customs officials felt as though he was acting suspiciously, so they sent him back to Dubai via London. Although al-Qahtani gave vague and conflicting answers regarding where he was going and who he was meeting, it was later alleged that Mohamed Atta, considered the "lead hijacker," was planning to meet him.CNN: Customs agent tells of stopping '20th hijacker' (January 24, 2004)
Alleged Torture

Al-Quanti detailed torture in a written statement alleging he had been beaten, restrained for long periods of time, stripped nude in front of females, threatened with dogs, and exposed to loud music and freezing temperatures during interrogation sessions. He later recanted what he had said during these sessions, claiming he had lied and told interrogators what they wanted to hear so that they would cease brutalizing him.TIME: Exclusive: '20th Hijacker' Claims That Torture Made Him Lie (March 3, 2006) While Susan Crawford agrees with Dick Cheney's statement that all the interrogation techniques used on al-Quanti were authorized by law, she added that "the manner in which they applied them was overly aggressive and too persistent."ABC News: Cheney Rejects Accusation of Gitmo Torture (January 14, 2009) Washington Post: Detainee Tortured, Says U.S. Official (January 14, 2009)