Key Takeaways:
– 11 detainees with ties to al-Qaida have been moved from Guantanamo Bay to Oman.
– Among them are two former bodyguards of Osama Bin Laden.
– The individuals were part of the group captured after the 9/11 terror attacks.
– The detainees were not charged and were kept in detention for several years.
– This event is part of the Biden administration’s endeavor to minimize the prison population of Guantanamo Bay.
The US, under the Biden administration, has moved 11 prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to Oman. According to reports, these detainees were related to al-Qaida. The notable fact is that two of those released had served as Osama Bin Laden’s bodyguards. Bin Laden had, infamously, been the architect of the lethal 9/11 attacks on America that caused the deaths of thousands.
Arrest and Detention:
In the aftermath of these horrific attacks, these 11 men were apprehended, and have been kept in custody for an extended period without having any charges brought against them. The detention of these Yemeni prisoners suspected of terrorism had been a murky area for many years.
Freedom Granted:
A statement from the Defense Department applauded Oman and other partnering nations for supporting the US efforts for responsibly downsizing the number of detainees, and ultimately intending to shutter the Guantanamo Bay facility. The same statement pointed out that upon review by professionals, these 11 individuals were deemed eligible for transfer. These operations were handled under the umbrella of national security interests in the United States.
Chipping Away at the Prison Population:
This recent event is believed to be part of Biden’s administration’s continuous efforts to empty Guantanamo Bay of similar prisoners. These 11 detainees were transferred as part of a covert operation to move them to Oman for resettlement. And why not Yemen? Well, the civil unrest in their home country was a primary factor.
Who Were They?
The transferred detainees are reported to include Moath Hamza Ahmed al-Alwi and Suhayl Abdul Anam al Sharabi, who allegedly served as Bin Laden’s bodyguards. The latter was also considered an active al-Qaida fighter. Al-Alwi’s intelligence file dated back to 2016, revealing several instances implying he continued to maintain an extremist mindset. Other detainees who tasted freedom included Uthman Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Uthman, Khalid Ahmed Qassim, Hani Saleh Rashid Abdullah, and eight others.
What’s Ahead?
This transfer has significantly reduced Guantanamo’s detainee count, with approximately 15 inmates remaining, and their cases being in varying stages of progress. Established by former President George W. Bush in his fight against terror in 2002, the Guantanamo Bay facility once held 800 prisoners. These prisoners were not allowed entry into the US, thereby denying them access to the US justice system.
Previous President Barack Obama promised to shut it down during his tenure. However, despite serving two full terms, the closure of Guantanamo Bay remained an unfulfilled promise. Now the question remains over the fate of Guantanamo Bay and its remaining detainees under the Biden administration.