SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Demonstrators outside the Superior Court in Washington, DC in January 2012. (Photo: mike.benedetti/flickr/cc)
After 13 Years Imprisoned Without Charge, Man Released From Guantanamo
Groups say human rights violations at the prison continue, Gitmo must be closed
Nov 06, 2014
A man held at the Guantanamo Bay prison for nearly 13 years without charge has been transferred to his home country of Kuwait.
The Department of Defense made the announcement of his release Wednesday.
Thirty-seven-year-old Fawzi al Odah is the first man to be released based on the assessment of the Periodic Review Board, a body established in 2011 through an executive order and tasked with evaluating the merits of ongoing detention for Guantanamo prisoners.
Agence France-Presse reports that in 2001, Odah "was seized by tribesmen in northern Pakistan, who sold him to the Pakistani army, which in turn handed him over to the United States."
The transfer agreement requires al Odah to spend at least a year at a rehabilitation facility, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
One hundred forty-eight men still remain at the offshore prison, 79 of whom have been cleared for release.
Rights groups welcomed the decision to release Odah, but stressed that it was just a small step forward at the notorious prison.
"The U.S. government must do far more to end human rights violations at Guantanamo," stated Amnesty International USA's Director of Individuals At Risk Program Zeke Johnson. "All remaining detainees should either be fairly tried in federal court or released."
The Center for Constitutional Right issued a similar statement: "The real work now is in getting the Obama administration to do the right thing and live up to its promise to close Guantanamo: release the men who have been cleared, no matter where they are from, and give the others real trials, not indefinite detention."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
A man held at the Guantanamo Bay prison for nearly 13 years without charge has been transferred to his home country of Kuwait.
The Department of Defense made the announcement of his release Wednesday.
Thirty-seven-year-old Fawzi al Odah is the first man to be released based on the assessment of the Periodic Review Board, a body established in 2011 through an executive order and tasked with evaluating the merits of ongoing detention for Guantanamo prisoners.
Agence France-Presse reports that in 2001, Odah "was seized by tribesmen in northern Pakistan, who sold him to the Pakistani army, which in turn handed him over to the United States."
The transfer agreement requires al Odah to spend at least a year at a rehabilitation facility, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
One hundred forty-eight men still remain at the offshore prison, 79 of whom have been cleared for release.
Rights groups welcomed the decision to release Odah, but stressed that it was just a small step forward at the notorious prison.
"The U.S. government must do far more to end human rights violations at Guantanamo," stated Amnesty International USA's Director of Individuals At Risk Program Zeke Johnson. "All remaining detainees should either be fairly tried in federal court or released."
The Center for Constitutional Right issued a similar statement: "The real work now is in getting the Obama administration to do the right thing and live up to its promise to close Guantanamo: release the men who have been cleared, no matter where they are from, and give the others real trials, not indefinite detention."
A man held at the Guantanamo Bay prison for nearly 13 years without charge has been transferred to his home country of Kuwait.
The Department of Defense made the announcement of his release Wednesday.
Thirty-seven-year-old Fawzi al Odah is the first man to be released based on the assessment of the Periodic Review Board, a body established in 2011 through an executive order and tasked with evaluating the merits of ongoing detention for Guantanamo prisoners.
Agence France-Presse reports that in 2001, Odah "was seized by tribesmen in northern Pakistan, who sold him to the Pakistani army, which in turn handed him over to the United States."
The transfer agreement requires al Odah to spend at least a year at a rehabilitation facility, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
One hundred forty-eight men still remain at the offshore prison, 79 of whom have been cleared for release.
Rights groups welcomed the decision to release Odah, but stressed that it was just a small step forward at the notorious prison.
"The U.S. government must do far more to end human rights violations at Guantanamo," stated Amnesty International USA's Director of Individuals At Risk Program Zeke Johnson. "All remaining detainees should either be fairly tried in federal court or released."
The Center for Constitutional Right issued a similar statement: "The real work now is in getting the Obama administration to do the right thing and live up to its promise to close Guantanamo: release the men who have been cleared, no matter where they are from, and give the others real trials, not indefinite detention."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.