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After announcing the release of a Kenyan detainee from Guantanamo Bay on Tuesday, the Biden administration has announced two more detainees have been released on Wednesday.
From the Associated Press: The U.S. has transferred two Malaysian detainees at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison to their home country, after they pleaded guilty to charges related to deadly 2002 bombings in Bali and agreed to testify against the alleged ringleader of that and other attacks, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep worked for years with Encep Nurjaman, known as Hambali, an Indonesian leader of al-Qaida affiliate Jemaah Islamiya. That includes helping Nurjaman escape capture after Oct. 12, 2002 bombings that killed 202 people at two night spots in Bali, U.S. officials said.
The two men entered guilty pleas to conspiracy and other charges in January. Their transfer comes after they provided testimony that prosecutors plan to use in the future against Nurjaman, the alleged mastermind, the Pentagon said in a statement.
Nurjaman is in custody in Guantanamo awaiting resumption of pre-trial hearings in January involving the Bali bombings and other attacks.
On Tuesday, the Defense Department announced that a Kenyan man, Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu, had been sent back to Kenya after 17 years at Guantanamo without charge.
“On Dec. 27, 2021, the Periodic Review Board (PRB) process determined that continued law of war detention of Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu (ISN 10025) was no longer necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the national security of the United States. The PRB recommended that Bajabu be transferred subject to appropriate security assurances,” the Defense Department announced in a press release.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin notified Congress on November 14 of his intent to repatriate Bajabu to Kenya.
“The United States appreciates the support to ongoing U.S. efforts toward a deliberate and thorough process focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility,” the announcement reads.
Currently, 27 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay: 15 are eligible for transfer; 3 are eligible for a Periodic Review Board; 7 are involved in the military commissions process; and 2 detainees have been convicted and sentenced by military commissions.
According to the New York Times, there were 40 inmates at the Gitmo prison with Joe Biden took office. Now, the Biden administration has reduced it to 27, so far.
UPDATE: US transfers 2 more prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility
Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep have been repatriated to Malaysia, per @DeptofDefense
Guantanamo now holding just 27 detainees – 15 eligible for transfer https://t.co/w4LSl5iTUu pic.twitter.com/733AXG0B5I
— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) December 18, 2024
U.S quietly repatriates Guantanamo detainee Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu: https://t.co/ilalcXqgzU.
— Tam Hussein (@tamhussein) December 17, 2024
MORE NEWS: The United States has repatriated two Malaysian prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, concluding a secret military operation. The rare transfer, a day after the Pentagon delivered another prisoner to Kenya, leaves the detainee population at 27 men.https://t.co/1Gog1L0zrO
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg) December 18, 2024
Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu, who has been indefinitely detained without charge at #Guantanamo 17+ years is finally being transferred out of the prison. The U.S. government now has an obligation to ensure that the government of Kenya will respect and protect his human rights. pic.twitter.com/0p1xXTvfIw
— SF Amnesty International USA Group 30 (@AmnestySF30) December 17, 2024
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