US releases Guantánamo prisoner held without charge for more than 20 years

Dec 31, 2024

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Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Senior Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

The Pentagon revealed Monday, Dec. 30, that it’s releasing one of the longest-held prisoners at the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi of Tunisia sat in the prison for more than 20 years without ever being charged with a crime.

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The Biden administration said al-Yazidi, who is now 59 years old, was eligible to transfer after a review process.

He had been at Guantánamo since the day former President George W. Bush opened the prison camp in 2002 and was accused of being a member of al-Qaida, but never charged.

According to Human Rights First, he had been eligible for transfer since 2007 by former Presidents Bush and Barack Obama. However, a deal was never reached.

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Congress he supported al-Yazidi’s repatriation to Tunisia earlier this year.

The Biden administration has faced growing pressure to clear the camp of remaining men who haven’t been charged before President-elect Donald Trump takes over next month.

The Defense Department says that 14 of the remaining 26 detainees at Guantánamo are eligible for transfer.

Al-Yazidi is the fourth detainee in two weeks to be released from the prison.

Tags: Cuba, Donald Trump, Guantanamo Bay, Joe Biden, Prison, Prisoners

[Karah]

THE PENTAGON REVEALED MONDAY IT IS RELEASING ONE OF THE LONGEST HELD PRISONERS AT THE U-S MILITARY PRISON AT GUANTANAMO BAY IN CUBA.

RIDAH BIN SALEH AL-YAZIDI (REE-duh BIN SAH-leh AHL-yah-ZEE-dee) OF TUNISIA SAT IN GITMO FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS WITHOUT EVER BEING CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID AL-YAZID,I WHO’S NOW 59 YEARS OLD …WAS ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER AFTER A REVIEW PROCESS.

HE HAD BEEN AT GUANTANAMO SINCE THE DAY FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH OPENED THE PRISON CAMP IN 2002, ACCUSED OF BEING A MEMBER OF AL-QAEDA – BUT NEVER CHARGED.

ACCORDING TO “HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST” HE HAD BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSFER SINCE 2007 BY FORMER PRESIDENTS BUSH AND OBAMA … HOWEVER, A DEAL WAS NEVER REACHED.

U-S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN TOLD CONGRESS HE SUPPORTED AL-YAZIDI’S REPATRIATION TO TUNISIA EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS FACED GROWING PRESSURE TO CLEAR THE CAMP OF REMAINING MEN WHO HAVEN’T BEEN CHARGED BEFORE PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP TAKES OVER NEXT MONTH.

THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT 14 OF THE REMAINING 26 DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSFER.

AL-YAZIDI IS THE FOURTH DETAINEE IN TWO WEEKS TO BE RELEASED FROM THE PRISON.

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