Key dates in the life of Gitmo prisoner Majid Khan
Feb 29, 2012, 10:05 PM
(AP) – Key dates in life of Majid Khan, former U.S. resident who pleaded guilty to war crimes before military tribunal at Guantanamo:
Feb. 28, 1980: Born in Pakistan.
1996: Moves with family to Baltimore area in United States. Granted asylum within two years.
June 1999: Graduates from Owings Mills High School. Gets jobs in database administration with Maryland Office of Planning and computer training center. Volunteers to teach database administration in youth program at Islamic Society of Baltimore.
March 2001: Begins working at Electronic Data Systems Technology & Engineering as infrastructure specialist, after passing background check.
April 2001 _ Mother dies and Khan begins to adopt more radical view of Islam while attending conferences of Islamic missionary group, Tablighi Jamaat.
Jan. 4, 2002: Travels to Karachi, Pakistan, where later introduced to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, self-proclaimed mastermind of Sept. 11 attack as well as other plots. Begins working with Mohammed, delivering messages and checking email accounts. Discusses plot to blow up fuel tanks in U.S. Volunteers to conduct suicide attack on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and records “martyr’s video.” Goes to mosque wearing explosive vest, but Musharraf never arrives.
Feb. 26, 2002: Marries in Pakistan and returns to U.S. At end of year, returns to Pakistan with wife, Rabia.
March 21, 2002: Returns to Baltimore, works at family’s gas station for about five months.
Aug. 11, 2002: On orders from al-Qaida leaders, returns to Pakistan, where prosecutors say he volunteers to go anywhere to help group.
Dec. 24, 2002: Khan travels with wife to Bangkok, Thailand, and delivers $50,000 to Southeast Asian al-Qaida affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah. Money helps pay for 2003 suicide bombing that kills 11 people and wounds 81 at J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.
March 5, 2003: Pakistani security forces raid family home in Karachi. Khan, brother, sister-in-law and infant niece taken to unknown location. Sister-in-law and niece freed after week; brother held about month. CIA takes custody of Khan.
Sept. 6, 2006: President George W. Bush announces Khan and 14 other “high-value” prisoners transferred to Guantanamo detention center.
Jan. 12, 2007: Khan cuts through artery in first of two suicide attempts that he later describes to military review panel to protest conditions at Guantanamo.
April 15, 2007: Testifies before military panel considering whether he is “enemy combatant” who can be detained at Guantanamo. Denies he is extremist or member of al-Qaida. Claims U.S. authorities tortured him.
Oct. 16, 2007: Defense Department allows civilian defense attorney to meet with Khan at Guantanamo.
Feb. 29, 2012: Khan agrees to plead guilty to charges that include murder, attempted murder and providing material support for terrorism in plea deal that caps eventual sentence at no more than 19 years if he cooperates with U.S. authorities.
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Sources: Court documents, statements from family and attorneys, the U.S. military, Associated Press archives.
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