In October 2005, Mr. Nassar, an influential Islamic theorist, was apprehended by Pakistani officials and handed over to U.S. officials. His wife and family have not heard from him since this time. They do not know where he is located; they do not know if he is alive or dead.
On August 3, 2009, the ACLU, together with Alkarama for Human Rights and Reprieve sent a request to the U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, asking that the Working Group take up Mr. Nassar's case with the government of the United States.
In particular, we have requested that the Working Group fully investigate the specific circumstances of Mr. Nassar's enforced disappearance at the hands of the U.S. government.
Similar requests were also sent to Martin Scheinin, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, and Manfred Nowak, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, on Mr. Nassar's behalf. These requests implicate the government of the United States as well as the governments of Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Syria and Spain who were all involved in some capacity in Mr. Nassar’s enforced disappearance as part of the "extraordinary rendition" program.