For over two decades, the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, commonly known as Gitmo, has been a flashpoint of global controversy. Established in January 2002 during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. military prison was intended to hold individuals captured in the war on terror. Since its inception, 780 prisoners have passed through its gates, but today, only 27 remain.
As of 2024, President Joe Biden has resumed efforts to close the facility, a policy initially championed by former President Barack Obama. Under Biden, 13 detainees have been released, including three in December alone. These releases reflect ongoing attempts to move forward with transferring prisoners to other countries. One of the most notable transfers this month was Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu, who had been held for over 17 years without charge before being sent back to Kenya. Two other detainees, Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, linked to the 2002 Bali bombings, were repatriated to Malaysia.
Yet, the efforts to repatriate many of the remaining 27 prisoners have been far from smooth. Fifteen detainees have been conditionally approved for transfer by Guantanamo’s military review board, but their release has been delayed for years in some cases. Furthermore, two prisoners have been convicted by military commissions on terrorism charges, while seven others, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed—the alleged mastermind behind 9/11—are awaiting trial. Three detainees have not been charged with any crimes but are considered too dangerous to release.
Efforts to close Guantanamo Bay have faced significant setbacks, particularly during the tenure of President Donald Trump. Trump, who took office in 2017, was vocally opposed to the closure of the facility. Before assuming office, he declared his intent to halt prisoner releases, even promising to send more detainees to Guantanamo. In 2018, Trump signed an executive order ensuring the prison would remain open, effectively reversing Obama’s policy. Although Trump released a single prisoner, a Saudi Arabian national, in 2018, he continued to defend the $540 million annual cost of the prison, describing it as “crazy” while maintaining his stance against closure.
While Trump’s administration put up barriers to any potential shutdown, the issue of Guantanamo’s legacy has not faded from public and political discourse. Human rights groups, including the United Nations, have repeatedly condemned the prison for its history of torture and human rights abuses. Yet, despite these criticisms and calls for its closure, no U.S. administration since its opening has fully succeeded in shutting the facility down.
Among the remaining detainees, several stand out due to their high-profile cases. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, 59, was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and is accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, killing nearly 3,000 people. He and four other prisoners were charged in 2012, but delays in the trial process have led to further complications. Despite offers to plead guilty in 2012, the deal was quashed by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Other detainees, such as Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, both allegedly played pivotal roles in the planning of the 9/11 attacks and are awaiting trial. Their legal battles have been mired in delays, and their continued detention highlights the complexity of closing the prison. Other figures, such as Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who allegedly masterminded the USS Cole bombing in 2000, also remain imprisoned after facing legal hurdles that have stalled their cases for years.
For some, the prospect of release is a distant hope. Detainees like Khaled Ahmed Qassim and Moath Hamza Ahmed al-Alwi, both held without charge since 2002, have been approved for release but remain stuck in a web of diplomatic delays. Others, such as the 52-year-old Yemeni Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi, have long been cleared for release but refuse to speak with officials about repatriation.
The fate of Guantanamo’s remaining prisoners remains uncertain, with many awaiting the outcome of stalled negotiations, while others face the looming threat of indefinite detention under the U.S. law of war. The prison’s future continues to be a contentious issue, with ongoing calls from human rights groups for its closure and demands for justice from the detainees and their families.
Sources: The Times, UK
