A Saudi detainee from Guantanamo military prison, suspected of having attempted to participate in the September 11 attacks, has been repatriated to Saudi Arabia, the US Department of Defense announced on Monday.
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“On February 4, 2022 Secretary of Defense (Lloyd) Austin notified Congress of his intention to repatriate Mohammed al-Qahtani to Saudi Arabia. In connection with our Saudi partners, we have fulfilled the conditions required for a secure transfer“said a statement. “The United States appreciates the willingness of Saudi Arabia and other partners to support continued American efforts to reduce through a precise and deliberate process the prison population and ultimately close the Guantanamo prison.“continued the US Department of Defense.
No “serious threat”
Mohammed al-Qahtani had been accused of being the 20th hijacker who should have participated in the attacks of September 11, 2001. Captured in Afghanistan in December 2001, he had been one of the first prisoners transferred to Guantanamo in January 2002 The Guantanamo Review Board had determined in June 2021 that his detention was “notno longer neededto protect the security of the United States from aserious threat“, recalls the press release from the Ministry of Defense. In particular, the commission took into accountthe inmate’s very poor mental health“, the “family support available», and the «qualityof the care he would receive in his country.
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The tortures that were imposed on Mohammed al-Qahtani have been widely documented. In particular, he was subjected to a prolonged solitary confinement regime, sleep deprivation or humiliation linked to his religion. A total of 38 detainees are still in Guantanamo, including 19 eligible for transfer, seven eligible for review by the Review Board and ten others, including the alleged mastermind of the 2001 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, says “KSMare awaiting trial by a military commission.