On Thursday, the US Defense Department revealed that two brothers, Abdul Rabbani and Mohammed Rabbani, were sent back to Pakistan from the Guantanamo Bay prison facility in Cuba.
The move is part of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to shutter the controversial prison.
Abdul Rabbani and Mohammed Rabbani were among those detained during the US’ lengthy campaign against terrorism.
They were held for allegedly running safe houses used by al Qaeda members, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who stands accused of masterminding the tragic 9/11 attacks.
The two brothers detained at Guantanamo Bay, Abdul Rabbani and Mohammed Rabbani, were returned to Pakistan after the US Defense Department determined that their detention was no longer necessary to protect the United States against a “significant threat.”
The brothers were never charged with a crime. In a statement, the Pentagon expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support of the US’ efforts to reduce the detainee population and close Guantanamo Bay.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed Congress of his intention to send the Rabbani brothers back to Pakistan in January. This follows the recent transfer of another Guantanamo prisoner, Majid Khan, to Belize.
Khan had served a terrorism-related sentence, having been convicted in 2012 of aiding al Qaeda in planning attacks in the US and other countries. It was believed that Khan had joined al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks and had resided in the US from 1996 to 2002.
As of now, the Defense Department reports that there are still 32 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, of which 18 are eligible for transfer.
For President Joe Biden to fulfill his pledge to close the prison, he must relocate all 32 detainees to other facilities or locations. However, previous efforts to transfer Guantanamo detainees have been met with strong public and political opposition.
When former President Barack Obama attempted to try the five individuals accused of plotting 9/11 in New York City, he faced significant backlash.
Obama had promised to close Guantanamo during his presidency, and even established the office of military commissions and the Periodic Review Board system, but ultimately failed to carry out the closure during his two terms in office.
Guantanamo Bay detention facility was established in 2002 with the primary objective of serving as an interrogation center for individuals suspected of being involved in the war on terror.
However, over the years, prisoners have been subjected to indefinite detention, with many being held without charges or trial and allegedly facing abuse.
As the US’ war on terror continued, Guantanamo Bay evolved into a notorious symbol of the country’s alleged violations of human rights in the post-9/11 era, gaining international attention and condemnation.