The Department of Defense invites media to cover a pre-sentencing hearing in the case of United States v. Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, scheduled for Oct. 30 – Nov. 3. The defendant entered a guilty plea in June of 2022.
The proceedings will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba and will be transmitted to a closed-circuit television site at Ft. Meade, Md.
Media desiring to travel to NSGB should be prepared to spend the entire week on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba due to flight scheduling. The flight for this hearing will depart from Joint Base Andrews, Md. Oct. 28 and return Nov. 4. Round-trip flight costs $800.
Media members should note the primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo topics unrelated to the military commissions—such as the naval base facilities or personnel—must be coordinated in advance through the respective public officer. OMC public affairs can provide point of contact information as needed.
Registration: Click here for registration and select the appropriate case and dates as outlined above [Oct. 30-Nov. 3].
Deadline: All requests must be received no later than 4 p.m. EDT, Friday, Aug. 18.
Additional details of travel will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process and respective OMC PAOs will be in touch to assist in travel preparations.
Media desiring to view this hearing from Fort Meade must send their requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and applicable media information: name, position, sponsoring organization and contact info.
Media may contact Lt. Cmdr. Adam Cole for additional questions at adam.r.cole6.mil@mail.mil or 571-372-8934.
Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website https://www.mc.mil.