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Military Repatriates Algerian Detainee From Guantánamo Bay Military Repatriates Algerian Detainee From Guantánamo Bay
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — The military announced Thursday that it had repatriated an Algerian detainee who had been held without trial for 12 years at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The transfer is the first in nearly three months, and it reduces the inmate population there to 154.WASHINGTON — The military announced Thursday that it had repatriated an Algerian detainee who had been held without trial for 12 years at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The transfer is the first in nearly three months, and it reduces the inmate population there to 154.
The detainee, Ahmed Bin Saleh Bel Bacha, 44, was the final Algerian prisoner whom a task force had been recommended for transfer more than four years ago. Four others were sent back last year, two in August and two in December. The task force, with members from six national-security agencies, reviewed the case of each prisoner at Guantánamo during the Obama administration’s first year. The detainee, Ahmed Bin Saleh Bel Bacha, 44, was the final Algerian prisoner whom a task force recommended for transfer more than four years ago. Four others were sent back last year, two in August and two in December. The task force, with members from six national security agencies, reviewed the case of each prisoner at Guantánamo during the Obama administration’s first year.
“We greatly appreciate the close cooperation of the government of Algeria in receiving one of its nationals from Guantánamo,” Cliff Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy for the prison’s closing, said in a statement. “Today’s transfer represents another step in our ongoing efforts to close the detention facility at Guantánamo.”“We greatly appreciate the close cooperation of the government of Algeria in receiving one of its nationals from Guantánamo,” Cliff Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy for the prison’s closing, said in a statement. “Today’s transfer represents another step in our ongoing efforts to close the detention facility at Guantánamo.”
A leaked threat assessment file for Mr. Bel Bacha completed in 2005 says he was a veteran of the Algerian Army who later attended the Finsbury Park mosque in London, then known as a center of radical Islamism.A leaked threat assessment file for Mr. Bel Bacha completed in 2005 says he was a veteran of the Algerian Army who later attended the Finsbury Park mosque in London, then known as a center of radical Islamism.
At the time, its imam was Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, a fiery speaker also known as Abu Hamza al-Masri, who was extradited to the United States in 2012 and charged with terrorism offenses. The shoe-bomber Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui — the only person to stand trial in the United States for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — also attended the mosque during Mr. Mostafa’s tenure.At the time, its imam was Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, a fiery speaker also known as Abu Hamza al-Masri, who was extradited to the United States in 2012 and charged with terrorism offenses. The shoe-bomber Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui — the only person to stand trial in the United States for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — also attended the mosque during Mr. Mostafa’s tenure.
In early 2001, Mr. Bel Bacha went to Afghanistan and, according to the file that was leaked, received weapons training at a militant camp there. When the American bombing campaign began, he fled to Pakistan, was captured by Pakistanis and turned over to the United States.In early 2001, Mr. Bel Bacha went to Afghanistan and, according to the file that was leaked, received weapons training at a militant camp there. When the American bombing campaign began, he fled to Pakistan, was captured by Pakistanis and turned over to the United States.
Although the task force had recommended him for transfer, Mr. Bel Bacha was among dozens of detainees on that list who remained stuck at Guantánamo as the Obama administration’s efforts to whittle down the inmate population stalled. But last year, after a major hunger strike at the prison, President Obama renewed his efforts to close it, appointing Mr. Sloan and a counterpart at the Pentagon, Paul Lewis, to help achieve that goal.Although the task force had recommended him for transfer, Mr. Bel Bacha was among dozens of detainees on that list who remained stuck at Guantánamo as the Obama administration’s efforts to whittle down the inmate population stalled. But last year, after a major hunger strike at the prison, President Obama renewed his efforts to close it, appointing Mr. Sloan and a counterpart at the Pentagon, Paul Lewis, to help achieve that goal.
“The transfer of this Algerian national from Guantánamo Bay is another step forward in our effort to reduce the population and close the detention facility responsibly,” Mr. Lewis said. “I would like to thank Special Envoy Sloan’s office and the many others who worked on this transfer. Their work is greatly appreciated.”“The transfer of this Algerian national from Guantánamo Bay is another step forward in our effort to reduce the population and close the detention facility responsibly,” Mr. Lewis said. “I would like to thank Special Envoy Sloan’s office and the many others who worked on this transfer. Their work is greatly appreciated.”
In 2007, Mr. Bel Bacha asked a court to prevent the United States from sending him back to Algeria, saying he feared that he would be abused by its government. The two detainees repatriated in December were sent home involuntarily, but American officials said Mr. Bel Bacha did not object to his repatriation.In 2007, Mr. Bel Bacha asked a court to prevent the United States from sending him back to Algeria, saying he feared that he would be abused by its government. The two detainees repatriated in December were sent home involuntarily, but American officials said Mr. Bel Bacha did not object to his repatriation.
Mr. Bel Bacha was also one of four plaintiffs in a case challenging the military’s procedures for force-feeding detainees on a hunger strike: strapping them into a restraint chair, inserting a gastric tube through their noses and pouring a liquid nutritional supplement into their stomachs. Mr. Bel Bacha was also one of four plaintiffs in a case challenging the military’s procedures for force-feeding detainees on a hunger strike. The detainees were strapped into a restraint chair, and a gastric tube inserted through their noses was used to pour a liquid nutritional supplement into their stomachs.
A federal appeals court decided last month not to block the force-feedings for now, but in what could be a more significant step, ruled that the judiciary had jurisdiction to hear complaints over prison conditions at Guantánamo. This week, lawyers for detainees filed a new case challenging the procedures.A federal appeals court decided last month not to block the force-feedings for now, but in what could be a more significant step, ruled that the judiciary had jurisdiction to hear complaints over prison conditions at Guantánamo. This week, lawyers for detainees filed a new case challenging the procedures.
Mr. Obama had vowed to close the prison within a year after he took office, but that goal proved more difficult than he had anticipated. Congress blocked his plan to move some of the detainees to a facility inside the United States and — warning that some former prisoners had participated in new terrorist activities — imposed steep restrictions on transfers to countries where security was considered lax.Mr. Obama had vowed to close the prison within a year after he took office, but that goal proved more difficult than he had anticipated. Congress blocked his plan to move some of the detainees to a facility inside the United States and — warning that some former prisoners had participated in new terrorist activities — imposed steep restrictions on transfers to countries where security was considered lax.
Transfers of low-level detainees dried up in the final two years of Mr. Obama’s first term, and the State Department reassigned the envoy charged with negotiating transfers and did not replace him.Transfers of low-level detainees dried up in the final two years of Mr. Obama’s first term, and the State Department reassigned the envoy charged with negotiating transfers and did not replace him.
Mr. Bel Bacha’s departure leaves two Algerians at Guantánamo. Both were recommended for prosecution by the 2009-10 task force, although neither has been charged.Mr. Bel Bacha’s departure leaves two Algerians at Guantánamo. Both were recommended for prosecution by the 2009-10 task force, although neither has been charged.