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Guantanamo Detainees Repatriated to Home Countries

by Barbara McPherson | December 20, 2009 at 10:45 am

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The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the repatriation of 12 detainees from the infamous Guantanamo Bay Prison to their home countries. The prisoners were sent to Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan. This is part of the U.S. government's attempt to empty the offshore prison as quickly as possible. Some of the prisoners are slated to be moved to a revamped prison in Illinois.

Over the weekend, four Afghan detainees were transferred to their home country. Two Somali detainees were transferred to regional authorities in Somaliland. Six Yemeni detainees also were sent home.

Those detainees being repatriated were named. There is no word regarding charges against these men or compensation for being held for years at Guantamamo Bay Prison.

Afghans Abdul Hafiz, Sharifullah, Mohamed Rahim and Mohammed Hashim.

-Somali detainees Mohammed Soliman Barre and Ismael Arale.

Yemenis Jamal Muhammad Alawi Mari, Farouq Ali Ahmed, Ayman Saeed Abdullah Batarfi, Muhammaed Yasir Ahmed Taher, Fayad Yahya Ahmed al Rami and Riyad Atiq Ali Abdu al Haf.

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René

at 11:34 on December 20th, 2009

Did they just turn them loose? or turn them over to the authorities in those countries?

Barbara McPherson

at 11:58 on December 20th, 2009

Some were turned over to 'authorities' in their home countries. The U.S. authorities did not have enough evidence to convict any of them for terrorist activities. We need to remember that they were never charged with a crime. If a citizen of the U.S. or Canada were held without charge for that long, they would expect millions in compensation. Habeas corpus is a foundation of our laws in the U.S. and Canada, established by English common law -- charge and prosecute or set 'em free. Guantanamo Prison has been a disaster, providing a focus for fanatics around the world.