Keep Track of the Last Gitmo Inmates

     Perhaps nothing demonstrates the more stark contrasts between Republicans and Democrats in terms of human rights than the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. Founded in 2002 by President Bush, the camp has held nearly 800 individuals in its history, most without charge and with little solid intelligence tying them to acts of terrorism. These men were largely held in "black sites" around the world, where they were subjected to torture, before being transferred to "Gitmo" and effectively held in cages, denied medical treatment, and subjected to a lack of due process and an overbearing climate for decades. After being subjected to a series of legal setbacks by his own Supreme Court, the war criminal president began to transfer inmates out of the notorious facility.

     Immediately upon taking office, President Obama signed executive orders banning the use of torture and seeking closure of the facility. In spite of the National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress blocking the use of most funds for transfers of inmates, President Obama managed to reduce the population of the facility to just over 40. When President Trump took office, he pledged to "load it up with bad guys." While that was another promise he failed to keep, he did block all transfers and imprison one more inmate there. Trump also had to be talked out of rescinding the ban on torture by his own defense secretary, who convinced him reinstating the practice would be detrimental to national security.

     Thus the stage was set for President Biden, who has taken a more gradual and low-key approach to closing the facility. So far, the following inmates have been released:

1. Abdul Latif Nasser
2. Sufyian Barhoumi
3. Mohammad Mani Ahmad al-Qahtani
4. Asadullah Haroon Gul
5. Saifullah Paracha

     Meanwhile, the following inmates have been cleared for release if the proper security conditions are met:

1. Khaled Ahmed Qassim
2. Uthman Abdul al-Rahim Muhammed Uthman
3. Moath Hamza Ahmend al-Alwi
4. Muieen A Deen Jamal-A Deen Abd al-Fusal Abd al-Sattar
5. Rida Bin Saleh al-Yazidi
6. Zuhail Abdo Anam Said al-Sharabi
7. Ghassan Abdullah al-Sharbi
8. Said bin Brahim bin Umran Bakush
9. Ismail Ali Faraj Ali Bakush
10. Hani Saleh Rashid Abdullah
11. Omar Mohammed Ali al-Rammah
12. Tawfiq Nasir Ahmed al-Bihani
13. Sanad Yislam al-Kazimi
14. Hassan Mohammed Ali Bin Attash
15. Sharqawi Abdu Ali al-Hajj
16. Abdul Rahim Ghulam Rabbani
17. Mohammed Ahmed Gulam Rabbani
18. Abdulsalam al-Hela
19. Guled Hassan Duran
20. Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu

     We need to keep pressure on President Biden and Secretary Austin to uphold their commitment to advancing human rights and strengthening America's national security and global reputation. Aside from the 20 individuals above who need to be released, there are three individuals who remain held without charge but not approved for release. The Department of Defense should be given a year to either charge these three men or clear them for release. At the same time, there are five men who have been convicted in military tribunals and 10 more awaiting trial. Those convicted should be swiftly relocated to supermax and/or maximum security facilities in the contiguous 48 states, and those charged should be given a speedy trial. 

     We are closer than ever to seeing this notorious Guantanamo Bay facility emptied; now is the time to ensure it finally happens in as expeditious and efficient a manner as possible. We will update you as these cases move forward.