Majid Khan, a 42-year-old Pakistani who grew up in the United States, has been released from Guantanamo Bay maximum security prison after 15 years. He was the only prisoner of American nationality.
After Pakistani security services arrested him in Pakistan in 2003, he was first held for three years in secret overseas locations of the American security service CIA. He told how he was tortured, had to appear naked and suffered abuse.
In 2012, several years after being transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Khan confessed to participating in Al Qaeda terrorist acts. He was sentenced to ten years for this. He was already on it a year ago, but he could not go to any country. The Central American country of Belize is now prepared to receive him. His wife and daughter are also welcome.
There are still 34 prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. They are suspected of participating in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US or other terrorist acts.
The controversial prison once held hundreds of suspects who were arrested in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Guantanamo Bay is located in Cuba and therefore does not have to comply with US laws. Prisoners have few rights and most have been imprisoned despite little evidence of involvement in terrorist acts. Human rights groups have long called for the closure of the notorious institution.
The US government says it continues to work with other countries to responsibly reduce the number of prisoners and eventually close the detention camp.
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