The Obama administration’s most recent decision to transfer terrorists from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will send nine detainees to Saudi Arabia — the birthplace of al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 terrorists who perpetrated the attacks on September 11, 2001.
The Pentagon announced the transfer Saturday, thanking the Saudi government for its “humanitarian gesture.” The transfer is the most recent step in President Barack Obama’s decision to close the detention facility via an executive order he signed in the first week of his presidency.
“The United States is grateful to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” said the Pentagon’s statement. “The United States coordinated with government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”
The statement provided no details as to what security measures and precautions will be taken once the detainees are transferred to Saudi custody.
Those released include: Ahmed Umar Abdullah Al-Hikimi, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Saleh Nasir, Ali Yahya Mahdi Al-Raimi, Tariq Ali Abdullah Ahmed Ba Odah, Muhammed Abdullah Muhammed Al-Hamiri, Ahmed Yaslam Said Kuman, Abd al Rahman Al-Qyati, Mansour Muhammed Ali Al-Qatta, and Mashur Abdullah Muqbil Ahmed Al-Sabri.
Saturday’s announcement comes as the Obama administration has stepped up its pace of detainee releases in its effort to close the facility before the president leaves office. A plan to close the facility provided to Congress in February led to uproar from opponents who claimed the proposal was vague and was “no substitute for the legally-required detainee plan the President must submit to Congress.”
The proposal involves transferring some of the detainees to the custody of various foreign countries, while the rest would be housed in a U.S.-based detention facility. The location of the facility, which could cost as much as $475 million, is yet to be determined.
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