Legal Commentary

Two Syrian Detainees at Guantanamo Freed in Portugal

By Jeralyn

Two Syrian detainees at Guantanamo have arrived in Portugal and are now free.

The U.S. has not released their names. In June, a federal judge ordered the release of Syrian detainee Abdul Rahim Abdul Razak al-Janko. The court's opinion is here (pdf.)

Al-Janko was first captured by al-Qaeda who tortured him, causing him to falsely confess he was an American spy. Then he was imprisoned by the Taliban who thought he really was an American spy. The Taliban abandoned the prison where al-Janko was being held but left him there. The Americans found him, imprisoned him in Kandahar and sent him to Guantanamo where he has remained for 7 years. Hopefully, he's one of those released to Portugal and freed.

[More...]

Here's a list of other Syrians who have been held at Gitmo.

226 are left at Guantanamo:

Out of the remaining 226 prisoners at Guantanamo, more than 10 are awaiting release after US federal courts ruled they were innocent of any wrongdoing. Most are waiting for a third country to take them in.

Of the 35 cases in which federal judges have completed their reviews, 29 of the detainees have been ordered released.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 30, 2009 (boomark / email).