Guantanamo Detainee Transferred to Saudi Arabia

Credit: Alex Potemkin/Getty Images(GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba) — Another detainee who had been held at Guantanamo Bay Detention Center was released on Saturday, as the Department of Defense announced the transfer of Muhammed Murdi Issa Al-Zahrani from Guantanamo Bay to the government of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Zahrani is the sixth detainee transferred in the last three days and the seventh in two weeks. He had been subject to a periodic review process, including representatives from numerous government agencies. That board determined that Al-Zahrani does not pose a significant threat to U.S. security.

“In the past two weeks, the Department of Defense has transferred seven detainees,” Paul Lewis, special envoy for Guantanamo detention closure said. “A total of 13 detainees have been transferred this year. This strikes a responsible balance and reflects the careful deliberation the Secretary of Defense brings to the transfer process, and follows a rigorous process in the interagency to review several items including security review prior to any transfer.”

Approximately 142 detainees remain at Guantanamo.





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