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The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Monday the transfer of 11 Yemeni men from the Guantanamo Bay prison to Oman, after more than two decades of detention without formal charges.
This action is part of President Joe Biden's administration efforts to reduce the population of the controversial facility, established in 2002 to house terrorism suspects following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
With this recent transfer, the number of detainees at Guantanamo is reduced to 15, the lowest figure since its opening.
Among those released is Sharqawi al Hajj, who had repeatedly protested his detention through hunger strikes and had been hospitalized several times.
Human rights groups and some lawmakers have urged successive U.S. administrations to close Guantanamo or, at the very least, to release detainees who were never charged with a crime.
The prison housed around 800 detainees at its peak.
The Biden administration has been working to find countries willing to accept these uncharged detainees, many of whom are from Yemen, a country engulfed in conflict and partially controlled by the Houthi group, an ally of Iran.
Oman, a sultanate at the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has accepted around 30 Guantanamo prisoners in the past.
However, Omani authorities have not publicly confirmed the arrival of the recently transferred detainees.
After this transfer, six men remain in Guantánamo who have never been charged, two who have been convicted, and seven more who are accused of the September 11 attacks, the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, and the Bali bombings in 2002.
Since its opening, the prison has faced strong criticism for allowing the detention of individuals without formal charges or access to a fair trial, which violates international human rights standards.
Various reports have documented the use of interrogation methods considered torture, such as "waterboarding," prolonged isolation, and sleep deprivation. These practices drew international condemnation and harmed the reputation of the United States.
Over the years, the Guantanamo prison has been the site of multiple releases of detainees who remained incarcerated without formal charges.
In February 2023, the United States released two Pakistani brothers, Abdul and Mohammed Rabbani, who had been held for 20 years without charges at the Guantanamo Bay naval base.
They were repatriated to Pakistan after being accused of providing logistical support to Al Qaeda, although they never faced a formal trial.
That same month, Majid Khan, a former Al Qaeda courier, was released after 16 years of detention and resettled in Belize. Khan, 40 years old, had been transferred to Guantanamo in 2006 from secret CIA detention centers and became the first prisoner from that group to be released under the Biden administration.
In May 2021, the Joe Biden administration authorized the transfer of three Guantánamo prisoners: Pakistanis Saifullah Paracha and Abdul Rabbani, and Yemeni Uthman Abdul al-Rahim Uthman.
Although the destination and exact date of their transfer were unknown, this decision reflected the administration's efforts to reduce the prison population and eventually close the facility.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Freedom of Guantánamo Detainees
Why did the United States release 11 detainees from Guantanamo after 20 years?
The United States released 11 detainees from Guantánamo as part of the Biden administration's efforts to reduce the population of the controversial facility. This move aligns with demands from human rights groups and lawmakers who have urged for the closure of the prison or the release of detainees who have never been charged with a crime.
How many detainees are currently held in Guantánamo?
Currently, there are 15 detainees remaining at Guantanamo, the lowest number since its opening in 2002. This reduction is part of the Biden administration's effort to eventually close the prison or, at the very least, release those who have not been formally charged with a crime.
What has been the international impact of the Guantanamo prison?
Guantanamo prison has faced strong international criticism for allowing the detention of individuals without formal charges or access to a fair trial, which violates international human rights standards. Furthermore, various reports have documented the use of interrogation methods considered to be torture, such as "waterboarding," leading to international condemnation and damaging the reputation of the United States.
What countries have received the detainees released from Guantanamo?
Oman has received around 30 prisoners from Guantanamo in the past and recently welcomed the 11 Yemeni men who were released. The Biden administration has been working to find countries willing to accept these uncharged detainees, primarily from Yemen, a country mired in conflict.
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