Washington [US], January 1: One of the first inmates to be detained at the notorious US-run Guantanamo Bay prison has been transferred home to Tunisia after being held for almost 23 years at the facility in Cuba, according to the Pentagon.
US Secretary of Defense informed Congress in January about his intent to support the repatriation of Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi following rigorous review, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The ministry did not provide further details on the repatriation. According to US media reports, al-Yazidi, 59, was detained by Pakistani security forces near the border with Afghanistan in December 2001 and had been imprisoned at Guantanamo since the detention facility was opened in January 2002.
He was reportedly held without charge.
His repatriation to Tunisia was first initiated some 10 years ago, according to the reports.
It comes after three other Guantanamo inmates were also reportedly repatriated this month.
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a US military prison within a US naval base in Cuba established by the George W. Bush administration following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to hold suspected Islamist terrorists. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
