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Malaysia seeking return of 2 Guantanamo detainees

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The government of Malaysia has asked the United States to permit its security officials to meet with two Malaysian citizens being held in Guantanamo Bay, according to state media Saturday. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that he would like to see the two men returned to Malaysia so that they could serve the remainder of their sentences there. The two prisoners, Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep, or "Lillie", and Mohd Farik Bin Amin, or "Zubair", are being held because of alleged ties to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group. Both men were picked up in Thailand in 2003 and are considered "high-value detainees". Abdullah has praised US President Barack Obama for his recent decision to close down the Guantanamo prison facility within a year. The actions by Malaysia dovetail with efforts by the US to encourage home countries or even third countries to accept detainees. Many European countries, including Britain, Germany, Ireland, and Portugal have already said they would consider accepting released detainees although other countries have been notably reticent. About 245 detainees remain at the facility, with roughly 60 eligible for transfer or release.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 24, 2009 (boomark / email).