The United States has transferred 11 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay detention center to Oman after holding them for more than two decades without charge. The move is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the prison’s population and eventually close the facility, which has long been criticized as a symbol of human rights abuses during the “war on terror.”
In a statement released on Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense expressed gratitude to Oman for supporting efforts to reduce the detainee population. “The United States appreciates the willingness of the government of Oman and other partners to assist in responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility,” the statement read.
Among those transferred is Sharqawi al-Hajj, who spent 21 years in detention following two years of CIA custody that included reported torture. Al-Hajj engaged in repeated hunger strikes during his time at Guantanamo to protest his prolonged detention. Pardiss Kebriaei, a lawyer with the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) representing al-Hajj, welcomed his release, saying, “Our thoughts are with Mr. Al Hajj as he transitions to the free world after almost 23 years in captivity. His release is hopeful for him and for us.”
The transfer leaves only 15 detainees at Guantanamo, down from a peak of nearly 800 in the years following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for the closure of the detention center, labeling it a “glaring, longstanding stain on the human rights record of the United States.”
In recent weeks, U.S. authorities have accelerated efforts to transfer detainees. Several prisoners, including individuals held without charge for decades, were recently released to various countries. The Biden administration has reiterated its commitment to closing the facility, though significant hurdles remain.
Of the remaining 15 detainees, six are uncharged, with three cleared for transfer. The Defense Department noted that nine detainees are linked to high-profile terrorism cases, including the September 11 attacks and the USS Cole bombing.
aljazeera
