ALIAS: Mullah Nuri, Noor Muhammad, Noorudeen, Hafiz Noorullah
Date of birth: January 1, 1967, Shajoie, Zabul Province, Afghanistan
Citizenship: Afghanistan,
Risk level: HIGH, probably poses a threat to the US, its interests and allies
Intelligence value: HIGH
Rank / Position: Senior Taliban Military Commander, Taliban Governor of Balkh and Lagman Provinces
Education:
Imprisoned: January 11, 2002
Released: May 31, 2014
Connections
- Close ties with Taliban leader Mullah Omar
- Senior Taliban officials
- High-ranking members of al-Qaeda
- Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
- Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
- Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin
Crimes
- Participated in hostilities against US and coalition forces in Zabul province
- War crimes: murder and torture of thousands of Shiite Muslims in northern Afghanistan
- Communications approved between the Taliban and al-Qaeda
History
Noori grew up in Shajoie and learned to read and write at her village mosque. His father was an imam in the mosque and Noori’s upbringing earned him the title of “Mullah”. While in Zabul province, Noori worked on her father’s land and also as a tailor.
In 1995, Noori fought alongside al-Qaeda.
In March 1999, Noori left her home for Kabul to join the Talibam. He met Mullah Yunis at the security base and a month later began working for Governor Malawi Kabir in Jalalabad. He worked as a guard for Kabir and did housework.
In December 1999, Kabir sent Noori to Baghlan and told her to work for the local governor, Mullah Abdul Bari. In February 2000, Noori went to Mazar-e-Sharif to work for the governor. After 8 months, Noori was appointed governor. Noori’s responsibilities included mediating civil disputes and performing security duties.
On November 17, 2001, Noori surrendered to US forces. He was sent to Guantanamo Bay on January 11, 2002. He was considered a high-value asset due to the biographical information he had on the Taliban leaders.
On May 31, 2014, Noori, along with four other Taliban detainees, was exchanged for an American prisoner of war, Bow Bergdahl. The Emir of Qatar has been recognized for his efforts to secure this agreement between the United States and the Taliban. Noori, along with the other four, will be under Qatari control for at least a year, with a ban on leaving the country.
Since the release of Noori and the other four men, a government watchdog agency (the GAO) released a report stating that the Obama administration had acted illegally by failing to notify Congress prior to the exchange. It is currently unclear how this will affect US law or the administration.