After 13 Years Without Charge, Shaker Aamer to be Freed From Guantanamo

[portlander23]

After 13 Years Without Charge, Shaker Aamer to be Freed From GuantanamoFreed From Guantanamo

Shaker Aamer, the last remaining UK prisoner in Guantánamo Bay prison, will be released and allowed to return home, a British government spokesperson announced Friday.

Aamer, 46, a Saudi citizen and UK resident, has been held at the U.S. military base in Cuba for 13 years without charge and has twice been cleared to go home.

According to his lawyers, Aamer was abducted by bounty hunters in Afghanistan in 2001 and handed over to U.S. forces, who transferred him to Guantánamo Bay two months later. While there, he organized and participated in hunger strikes and other actions to draw attention to torture and mistreatment of detainees, including himself.

"This is a man who was held without trial or charge for more than 13 years, alleges he was tortured repeatedly, was cleared for transfer twice, and the UK government has asked that he be transferred back to the United Kingdom, yet he still languished in detention from February 2002 until today," Hawkins said.

[polly7]

1. So damned sad. nt.

[Hydra]

2. This should have happened in 2009

Gitmo should have been closed, and Bushco put in jail.

The failure of the Third Way in even attempting to look like they were doing the right thing is why they are failing this election cycle.

[gratuitous]

3. Long overdue

And the rest of the prisoners there continue to accrue to our shame. But even at that, you can bet that there will be Republicans wetting their pants over Aamer's release.

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[Dustlawyer]

5. It continues to violate the bedrock principles that America is supposed to stand for!

Just because Guantanamo is not located in our country does not make it ok.

[SoapBox]

6. Can you imagine the horror...

[Mnemosyne]

7. Beyond torture, unconscionable to do that to another human being. nt