afrol News, 12 June - A Chadian man, Mohamed Al-Gharani has been transferred to Chad from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay after spending seven years in detention, US Department of Justice has said in a statement.

Mr Al-Gharani who was arrested at the age of 14 in Pakistan in October 2001, has reportedly arrived in Chad late Thursday, after his release from the facility.

The Justice department said Mr Al-Gharani’s case was thoroughly reviewed by the Guantanamo Review Task Force, which on the later stage approved his transfer from the Guantanamo to back to his native country.

The Executive Director of the Guantanamo Review Task Force Matthew Olsen said as the review of cases for detainees in the bay continues, the international support is critical towards the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

“The transfers were carried out pursuant to arrangements between the United States and the government of Chad,” the statement said.

In January, a US court ordered his release because there was no evidence to prove he was an enemy combatant.

Mr Al-Gharani’s who was released with an Iraqi national, Jawad Jabber Sadkhan, and were the seventh and eighth to be released from the controversial US Navy-run detention camp in south-eastern Cuba since President Barack Obama entered the White House in January.

President Obama, who has ordered the Guantanamo detention centre closed by early next year, has however had trouble finding countries to accept prisoners who have been found not guilty of crimes but who cannot be returned to their own countries over fear that they will face persecution.

The Department said since 2002, more than 540 detainees have departed Guantanamo detention facility to more than 30 countries.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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