Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Height, Real Name, Brother, Case, Detention

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, also known as Saleh Kahlah, is a Qatar figure, who pursued a career as an auditor and graduate student before becoming the subject of intense legal scrutiny as a Qatari national convicted under U.S. law for terrorism-related offenses.

Arriving in the United States with his family to advance his education, al-Marri’s path took a dramatic turn following his 2001 arrest amid post-9/11 investigations, leading to his designation as an enemy combatant, prolonged military detention, and eventual guilty plea for conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaeda.

Profile

• Full Name: Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri
• Stage Name: Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri
• Born: 1966
• Age: 59 years old
• Birthplace: Qatar
• Nationality: Qatari
• Occupation: Graduate Student, Former Auditor
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: Jarallah al-Marri
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: 5
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life and Education

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri was born in 1966 in Qatar.

His parents raised him in the Gulf state, though details about them are unknown.

He shares his family ties with at least one sibling, his brother Jarallah al-Marri, while details on additional brothers or sisters remain undisclosed.

Al-Marri built a professional foundation in auditing, working roles at institutions like the Qatar Islamic Bank and in government positions before relocating to the United States.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in Illinois and returned in September 2001 for graduate studies in computer science at the same institution.

He is of Qatari-Arab heritage, and practices Islam as his religion.

Career

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri established his early professional footprint in Qatar’s financial sector, taking on auditing responsibilities at the Qatar Islamic Bank and contributing to government oversight projects that honed his expertise in compliance and risk assessment.

In 1991, he completed a bachelor’s degree at Bradley University in Illinois, returning a decade later with his family to pursue a master’s in computer science on September 10, 2001.

His plans for academic advancement halted abruptly when federal authorities arrested him on December 10, 2001, in Peoria, Illinois, as a material witness in the 9/11 investigations, followed by charges for credit card fraud that spotlighted his case nationally.

This period marked his shift from private sector work to the center of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, as allegations surfaced linking him to al-Qaeda training in Afghanistan and potential plots against American financial systems.

Al-Marri’s trajectory escalated in June 2003 when President George W. Bush designated him an enemy combatant, transferring him from civilian custody to military detention at the Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina, where he endured over five years of isolation, including solitary confinement that drew scrutiny from military officials and human rights advocates.

Legal battles ensued, with al-Marri challenging his status through habeas corpus petitions supported by the Brennan Center for Justice, questioning the president’s authority for indefinite detention without trial.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments in 2009, but the Obama administration intervened by indicting him on federal charges of providing material support to al-Qaeda, prompting his move back to civilian jurisdiction.

On April 30, 2009, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in a plea deal, leading to an eight-year sentence—most of which he had already served—highlighting tensions between security imperatives and constitutional protections.

Al-Marri completed his sentence and returned to Qatar in January 2015 following diplomatic arrangements, resuming a low-profile existence away from public view.

His legal saga influenced policy shifts under the Obama era, including reviews of enemy combatant detentions and executive orders on Guantánamo dispositions, while advocacy groups cited his experience to push reforms in detainee treatment.

The case endures as a benchmark for civil liberties in the war on terror, underscoring vulnerabilities in due process for non-citizens and the long-term repercussions of national security designations.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: None
• Facebook Handle: None
• Twitter Handle: None

Personal Life

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri arrived in the United States with his wife and five children, prioritizing family stability amid his graduate pursuits until his 2001 arrest upended their lives.

He shielded his spouse’s identity throughout proceedings, focusing interviews and filings on the impacts of his detention rather than personal disclosures.

His children, then young, endured separation during his years in military and federal custody, a hardship his legal team emphasized in arguments against prolonged isolation.

Al-Marri drew strength from familial bonds, as evidenced by emotional reunions upon his 2015 repatriation to Qatar, where he kissed his mother’s feet at Doha airport.

Net Worth

Saleh Kahlah maintains no publicly disclosed net worth, with financial details shielded amid his detention and return to Qatar.

Any assets from prior auditing roles likely remain modest and private, untraceable through credible records.