U.S. repatriates 4 Afghan detainees from Guantanamo

The U.S. Defense Department announced Saturday the repatriation of four Afghan detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Those being released are Shawali Khan, Khi Ali Gul, Abdul Ghani and Mohammed Zahir, who can return to Afghanistan now that an overall review has been made of their cases and appropriate security and humane treatment measures applied, the Defense Department said in a communique.

The working group created especially by executive order in 2009 to review the cases of Guantanamo prisoners, in which officials from six government departments and agencies took part, “unanimously” concluded that the detainees were suitable for release to their homeland.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reported to Congress about the Afghans’ repatriation.

The United States thanked “the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”

Following the release of this group, 132 prisoners still remain in Guantanamo prison, established after the 9/11 attacks by the government of George W. Bush as a detention center for suspected terrorists.

Elsewhere this month, Uruguay welcomed another six Guantanamo prisoners, who will have refugee status in that country.