After almost 20 years of extrajudicial detention in the Guantánamo prison camp, the United States has deported an Algerian to his homeland. The US Department of Defense announced on Saturday that the dismissal of Sufijan Barhumi would implement a recommendation by the responsible review body.
The panel had already determined in August 2016 that Barhumi’s detention was no longer necessary “to protect against an ongoing significant threat to US national security”. The transfer took place in coordination with the Algerian authorities. The US Congress was informed, the statement said. The Defense Ministry said there were 37 prisoners at Guantanamo.
According to US media reports, after his arrest in Pakistan in July 2002, Barhumi was taken to Guantánamo on charges of conspiracy with the Islamist organization al-Qaeda.
At times almost 800 people were imprisoned
A total of almost 800 people were temporarily detained in the controversial prison camp in Cuba, which is located at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay. The camp was set up under Republican President George W. Bush after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to hold suspected Islamist terrorists without trial.
US President Joe Biden – a Democrat – had declared the closure of the prison camp as a goal after taking office at the beginning of last year. So far, however, he has not made any progress. There is fierce resistance to a closure, which human rights organizations have been demanding for a long time, particularly among Republicans in the US Congress.