The United States has released Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu to Kenya, reducing the number of prisoners at the facility to 29. Bajabu, arrested in 2007 for alleged ties to al-Qaeda, was determined by the Periodic Review Board to no longer pose a threat to national security. Reprieve US, which represented Bajabu, welcomed his release, stating he was tortured by Kenyan and US authorities. The Guantanamo Bay detention facility, opened in 2002 after the 9/11 attacks, operates under military commissions, lacking traditional US court rights. Of the 29 remaining detainees, 15 are eligible for transfer according to the Pentagon. Former President Barack Obama attempted to close the facility, but faced legal and political obstacles. Discussions about closing Guantanamo have resurfaced, with the Pentagon expressing a desire to do so responsibly. Additionally, a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others, who are accused of involvement in the 9/11 attacks, was blocked by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin following opposition from lawmakers and victim’s families. The Pentagon is appealing a decision to reinstate the plea agreement. These recent developments highlight the ongoing controversies surrounding Guantanamo Bay and efforts to address the fate of remaining detainees.
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US allows transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainee Bajabu to Kenya | Human Rights Update
