President Joe Biden has released nearly a dozen Yemeni prisoners from Guantanamo Bay as part of an effort to close the facility permanently. The Department of Defense announced that 11 detainees would be transferred to Oman. Among these prisoners are two individuals who previously worked as bodyguards for Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda and organizer of the 9/11 attacks.
The released detainees, who have not been charged with any crimes, include Uthman Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Uthman, Moath Hamza Ahmed al-Alwi, Khalid Ahmed Qassim, and others. Al-Alwi is noted for having served on bin Laden’s security detail in Afghanistan and has been suggested to retain an "extremist mindset. " Al Sharabi, another released prisoner, was allegedly involved in a failed hijacking plot similar to the 9/11 attacks.
All 11 individuals were captured shortly after the September 11 attacks, and their transfer aligns with a commitment made by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in September 2023. Despite being at Guantanamo, the legal status of these prisoners has been unclear, as American courts have not definitively ruled whether enemy combatants should have the same rights as accused criminals.
Currently, 15 prisoners remain at Guantanamo, a significant reduction from the 680 held at the height of the War on Terror in 2003. Notably, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 incidents, is expected to plead guilty, avoiding the death penalty. Other co-conspirators are also being offered plea deals.
The U. S. government has expressed gratitude to Oman for assisting in the effort to responsibly reduce the Guantanamo detainee population. The ongoing actions reflect a broader intention to close this controversial prison facility.
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