U.S. transfers six detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Uruguay

Six detainees from Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba have been transferred to live freely in Uruguay, the Pentagon announced Sunday. 

Officials in Uruguay chose the men– four Syrians, a Palestinian and a Tunisian — from a list of detainees, who were suspected of having al-Qaeda ties in 2002 but were never charged or given a trial, the Associated Press reported. They were cleared for release in 2009 and the transfer had been in the works since January.

The Pentagon identified the Syrians sent to Uruguay Saturday as Abu Wa’el Dhiab, 43; Ali Husain Shaaban, 32; Ahmed Adnan Ajuri, 37; and Abdelahdi Faraj, 33. Also released were Palestinian Mohammed Abdullah Taha Mattan, 35, and 49-year-old Adel bin Muhammad El Ouerghi of Tunisia.

This is the largest detainee contingent to leave Guantanamo Bay since 2009, and it’s the first group of detainees sent to South America.

“We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries,” said U.S. State Department envoy Clifford Sloan, who also called the transfer a “milestone” in U.S. efforts to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay for good. 

NewsHour’s William Brangham reported last October on the story of six other men — all ethnic Uighurs —  who were released from Guantánamo and sent to the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau. As Brangham reported, while the men were grateful to be out of prison, their lives had become stalled in a legal and political limbo. You can watch the full piece in the player above.

More than 130 detainees still remain at Guantánamo, including 67 who have been approved for future transfers.