The US Department of Defense has announced the repatriation of Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi, a detainee held at Guantanamo Bay since its establishment in 2002, back to Tunisia.
According to a Pentagon statement, Mr. Yazidi was deemed eligible for transfer following a “rigorous interagency review process.” However, the statement did not clarify whether he had admitted guilt regarding any accusations against him.
While the Pentagon refrained from disclosing specifics, The New York Times reported that Mr. Yazidi had never been formally charged and had been cleared for transfer over a decade ago.
Guantanamo Bay, located within a US naval base in south-eastern Cuba, was established by the Bush administration in 2002 to detain and interrogate individuals classified as “unlawful combatants” in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
Controversies surrounding the facility include prolonged detention without trial and the use of contentious interrogation methods.
As of the latest Pentagon update, 26 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay, with 14 eligible for transfer. Earlier in December, three other detainees were repatriated.
