The US Department of Defense has transferred 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Oman, marking one of the final acts before President Joe Biden leaves office. The transfer was announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in September 2023 and took place on Monday.
The detainees being transferred include several individuals who have been subjected to severe mistreatment while in US custody, including beatings, sleep deprivation, and extreme isolation. One detainee, Khalid Qassim, was found to be a victim of torture and is expected to be released after his transfer. His legal team praised the Biden administration for its actions.
This marks one of several transfers of Guantanamo Bay detainees in recent weeks. The US has also transferred four other detainees to Kenya, Malaysia, and Tunisia. However, three alleged co-conspirators of the 9/11 attacks have had their plea deals put on hold after Defense Secretary Austin intervened.
Despite President Biden’s goal to close Guantanamo Bay, only 15 detainees remain at the facility with three eligible for transfer. The facility was once home to around 40 detainees when the administration took office.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/06/politics/yemeni-detainees-guantanamo-bay-transferred-oman/index.html