The U.S. government has transferred 15 Guantanamo Bay detainees to the UAE, an order for such a massive transfer was received on Monday. Prior to leaving the White House in January, Barack Obama decided to remove most prisoners from the offshore prison.
The U.S. has transferred 12 Yemenis and three Afghans from the Cuba facility–Guantanamo prison–to the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest transfer for the period of Obama administration. In total, Guantanamo got rid of 61 detainees during Obama period. In comparison with Bush Jr times, when 242 men were imprisoned over there.
The U.S. Congrees showed a persistent resistance to closing the Guantanamo prison, as well as Pentagon. The Obama administration many times tried to get their approval, but faced with resist.
During recent months, President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden have intensified their efforts. The intend to “close the deal” with foreign leaders on resettling or repatriating detainees, told officials on Monday.
The UAE program for 15 detainees
The UAE, which got 15 newly transferred men, included them into the program that seeks to “de-radicalize”. A rehabilitation facility modeled after a Saudi should change the vision of detainees, said a senior administration official:
“There is an ideological component. They bring in the moderate [religious leaders]. They provide literature. They work on life skills.”
Such an approach should demonstrate UAE’s desire “for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”
