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| Shaker Aamer Is Released From Guantánamo Prison After 13 Years | Shaker Aamer Is Released From Guantánamo Prison After 13 Years |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Shaker Aamer, whose detention at the Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba attracted the attention of human rights lawyers, political leaders and rock stars, was freed on Friday after more than 13 years in captivity, British officials announced. Mr. Aamer, a Saudi citizen and British resident, was en route to London. | WASHINGTON — Shaker Aamer, whose detention at the Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba attracted the attention of human rights lawyers, political leaders and rock stars, was freed on Friday after more than 13 years in captivity, British officials announced. Mr. Aamer, a Saudi citizen and British resident, was en route to London. |
| Mr. Aamer’s transfer, which was confirmed by the British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, ends one of the best-known cases at the American prison. | Mr. Aamer’s transfer, which was confirmed by the British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, ends one of the best-known cases at the American prison. |
| At its center was a charismatic, English-speaking detainee who has been the subject of intense dispute. Military officials have portrayed Mr. Aamer, 46, as a dangerous Islamist leader, while human rights advocates see him as a victim falsely accused of ties to terrorism. Now Mr. Aamer will be free to speak his mind in public. | |
| “We are, of course, delighted that Shaker is on his way back to his home and his family here in the U.K.,” one of his lawyers, Cori Crider of the British human rights organization Reprieve, said in a statement. “It is long, long past time. Shaker now needs to see a doctor, and then get to spend time alone with his family, as soon as possible.” | |
| The release had been expected, after the Pentagon announced last month that Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter had approved a proposal to transfer Mr. Aamer. Under statutory restrictions imposed by Congress, the defense secretary must notify lawmakers at least 30 days before a transfer. | The release had been expected, after the Pentagon announced last month that Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter had approved a proposal to transfer Mr. Aamer. Under statutory restrictions imposed by Congress, the defense secretary must notify lawmakers at least 30 days before a transfer. |
| Mr. Aamer was captured by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in late 2001 and turned over to the United States, which took him to its new wartime prison at Guantánamo Bay in February 2002. The United States government believed that he was involved with Al Qaeda, leaked documents show, but he maintained that he was in the country to do charitable work. | Mr. Aamer was captured by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in late 2001 and turned over to the United States, which took him to its new wartime prison at Guantánamo Bay in February 2002. The United States government believed that he was involved with Al Qaeda, leaked documents show, but he maintained that he was in the country to do charitable work. |
| At Guantánamo, Mr. Aamer became a leader of detainees engaged in a mass hunger strike, negotiating with the prison camp authorities. But after the protest escalated and three detainees apparently committed suicide simultaneously in June 2006, military officials isolated Mr. Aamer from the main inmate population. | At Guantánamo, Mr. Aamer became a leader of detainees engaged in a mass hunger strike, negotiating with the prison camp authorities. But after the protest escalated and three detainees apparently committed suicide simultaneously in June 2006, military officials isolated Mr. Aamer from the main inmate population. |
| In 2007, the government of the British prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, asked for Mr. Aamer and four other British residents to be transferred. The United States sent four of them to Britain but held on to Mr. Aamer, whom the military authorities considered a more serious threat. | In 2007, the government of the British prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, asked for Mr. Aamer and four other British residents to be transferred. The United States sent four of them to Britain but held on to Mr. Aamer, whom the military authorities considered a more serious threat. |
| When the Obama administration took office in 2009, it convened a six-agency task force to review the remaining detainees. It unanimously recommended Mr. Aamer’s transfer. | When the Obama administration took office in 2009, it convened a six-agency task force to review the remaining detainees. It unanimously recommended Mr. Aamer’s transfer. |
| Security officials wanted to repatriate him to Saudi Arabia, where he would be subject to greater government control, while his lawyers wanted him to go to Britain, where his family lives. But he remained detained. | Security officials wanted to repatriate him to Saudi Arabia, where he would be subject to greater government control, while his lawyers wanted him to go to Britain, where his family lives. But he remained detained. |
| In 2014, with assistance from lawyers in the United States and Britain, Mr. Aamer filed a habeas corpus lawsuit seeking his release on health grounds, saying he had post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical ailments. A judge rejected that case. | In 2014, with assistance from lawyers in the United States and Britain, Mr. Aamer filed a habeas corpus lawsuit seeking his release on health grounds, saying he had post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical ailments. A judge rejected that case. |
| Mr. Aamer was also among a group of detainees who filed a challenge to the military’s practice of force-feeding hunger strikers, which resulted in an appeals court ruling in 2014 that the judiciary could oversee conditions of confinement at the prison. | Mr. Aamer was also among a group of detainees who filed a challenge to the military’s practice of force-feeding hunger strikers, which resulted in an appeals court ruling in 2014 that the judiciary could oversee conditions of confinement at the prison. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and the rock stars Sting, Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters were among those who pushed for Mr. Aamer’s release. His transfer came one day after the military repatriated a Mauritanian man, Ahmed Ould Abdel Aziz. | Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and the rock stars Sting, Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters were among those who pushed for Mr. Aamer’s release. His transfer came one day after the military repatriated a Mauritanian man, Ahmed Ould Abdel Aziz. |
| The two transfers reduced the detainee population at Guantánamo to 112. They include 51 men who are recommended for transfer if security conditions can be met in the receiving country; most are from Yemen, which is in chaos. | The two transfers reduced the detainee population at Guantánamo to 112. They include 51 men who are recommended for transfer if security conditions can be met in the receiving country; most are from Yemen, which is in chaos. |
| Of the 61 not recommended for transfer, 10 have been charged or convicted before the military commission system, and 51 are being held in indefinite law-of-war detention without trial. | Of the 61 not recommended for transfer, 10 have been charged or convicted before the military commission system, and 51 are being held in indefinite law-of-war detention without trial. |