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Guantanamo man left in Chad limbo | Guantanamo man left in Chad limbo |
(1 day later) | |
A Saudi-born man held at Guantanamo for seven years has told the BBC he has been left in Chad with no papers since his release earlier this month. | A Saudi-born man held at Guantanamo for seven years has told the BBC he has been left in Chad with no papers since his release earlier this month. |
Mohamed el-Gharani, whose parents are Chadian, said he had never visited Chad before and cannot speak the language, but described himself as happy. | Mohamed el-Gharani, whose parents are Chadian, said he had never visited Chad before and cannot speak the language, but described himself as happy. |
"Walking around with no guards, with no shackles, it's beautiful," he said. | "Walking around with no guards, with no shackles, it's beautiful," he said. |
Mr Gharani was the youngest detainee at Guantanamo. He was detained in Pakistan in 2001, when he was 14 years old. | Mr Gharani was the youngest detainee at Guantanamo. He was detained in Pakistan in 2001, when he was 14 years old. |
US authorities had accused him of fighting in Afghanistan and being a member of al-Qaeda as far back as 1998, according to his lawyer. | US authorities had accused him of fighting in Afghanistan and being a member of al-Qaeda as far back as 1998, according to his lawyer. |
But a US court ruled in January there was no evidence to prove he was an "enemy combatant" and ordered his release. | But a US court ruled in January there was no evidence to prove he was an "enemy combatant" and ordered his release. |
Nationality dispute | Nationality dispute |
He told the BBC's Network Africa programme that he had initially been welcomed at the airport in Chad, but had then been detained. | He told the BBC's Network Africa programme that he had initially been welcomed at the airport in Chad, but had then been detained. |
"I went to the police station and they kept me there for eight days - I didn't know why," he said. | "I went to the police station and they kept me there for eight days - I didn't know why," he said. |
If you've been in shackles for seven years every day, you will go to Chad, you will go anywhere Mohamed el-Gharani US frees Chad man | If you've been in shackles for seven years every day, you will go to Chad, you will go anywhere Mohamed el-Gharani US frees Chad man |
"I was asking every day 'Why am I here?' and they were telling me: 'You're going to see your family but we have to do paperwork.'" | "I was asking every day 'Why am I here?' and they were telling me: 'You're going to see your family but we have to do paperwork.'" |
He said he had been trying to get an ID card since he arrived, but so far had had no luck. | He said he had been trying to get an ID card since he arrived, but so far had had no luck. |
"One guy working for the government said: 'We don't know whether you're Chadian or not,'" he said. | "One guy working for the government said: 'We don't know whether you're Chadian or not,'" he said. |
"I said: 'Well you guys brought me here, took me from the Americans.' | "I said: 'Well you guys brought me here, took me from the Americans.' |
"He had no answer." | "He had no answer." |
But despite these difficulties, Mr Gharani said anywhere in the world was better than Guantanamo. | But despite these difficulties, Mr Gharani said anywhere in the world was better than Guantanamo. |
"If you've been in shackles for seven years every day, you will go to Chad, you will go anywhere," he said. | "If you've been in shackles for seven years every day, you will go to Chad, you will go anywhere," he said. |
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