A Guantanamo Bay prisoner has been sent back to Saudi Arabia.
President Trump hinted during the election that he planned to put more people in the prison. In reality, there are now fewer prisoners than when Barack Obama was in office. Ahmed Mohammed al Darbi’s transfer was announced Wednesday.
Al Darbi is going to serve the rest of his 13-year sentence in a Saudi rehabilitation center.
“While it may not make him whole, my hope is that repatriation at least marks the end of injustice for Ahmed,” said Ramzi Kassem, a law professor at the City University of New York. Kassem has represented al Darbi for 10 years.
Al Darbi, obviously, was overjoyed.
“I cannot thank enough my wife and our children for their patience and their love. They waited sixteen years for my return,” he said.
“Looking at what lies ahead, I feel a mixture of excitement, disbelief, and fear. I’ve never been a father. I’ve been here at Guantanamo. I’ve never held my son.”
The former detainee was nabbed in 2002. He’s closely related to a 9/11 hijacker. He personally pleaded guilty to conspiracy, terrorism and aiding the enemy. He was involved in an attack that claimed a life in France.
“The United States coordinated with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the transfer took place in accordance with established standards for security and humane treatment,” Commander Sarah Higgins, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said.
“This policy provides our warfighters guidance on nominating detainees for transfer to Guantanamo detention should that person present a continuing, significant threat to the security of the United States.”
President Trump isn’t a slave to his supporter’s opinions. A lot of people might not agree with al Darbi’s release. However, Trump was willing to approve the decision anyway. Al Darbi provided a lot of critical information in exchange for his transfer.
(Source: Daily Mail)