JEDDAH, 24 February 2007 — Families of the seven Saudis who returned from Guantanamo Bay have expressed tremendous happiness over their meeting with the loved ones after six years of separation, and hoped the remaining Saudis at the US prison camp in Cuba would be released soon.
“I cannot express my feelings in words when I met my son,” said Ayed Muhammad, father of Majed Al-Qurashi, one of the seven men. “I pray to Allah for the return of all Saudi detainees to make their families happy.”
The Interior Ministry announced on Feb. 21 the return of seven Saudis from Guantanamo. It identified the seven as Majed Al-Harbi, Rashed Al-Ghamdi, Faisal Al-Nasser, Muhammad Al-Harbi, Nasser Al-Subaie, Abdullah Al-Judi and Majed Al-Qurashi.
The families expressed their gratitude to Interior Minister Prince Naif and Assistant Interior Minister Prince Muhammad ibn Naif for their efforts to win the release of their beloved ones and giving them an opportunity to meet them at Al-Hayer Prison in Riyadh.
“I feel like having reborn when I landed in the Kingdom,” Al-Madinah newspaper quoted Majed Al-Harbi, one of the prisoners released last week, as saying. Majed said he felt at home at Hayer Prison where he met his relatives.
There were many emotional scenes at the prison. Little girl Mariya, daughter of Al-Subaie, was not able to recognize her father as he had left the Kingdom before she was born. She would not go to her father whom she considers a “stranger.”
Ashiq Al-Subaie, brother of Nasser, said: “I could not believe my eyes when I met my brother after several years. I was waiting for this day for many years.”
He said Mariya had told him that she was looking forward to see her father with great love. Her mother used to tell her stories about Nasser. According to Ashiq, her brother Nasser looked exhausted and pale.
However, the reunion with family has boosted his morale. “He was laughing for every word he heard from us as if he did not laugh for a long time,” Ashiq said.
The mother of Majed Al-Harbi was not able to control her tears when asked about the much-awaited reunion. “My feeling is totally different from all others. Majed is my son. He has changed a lot but there is no change in his innocent features. I am happy to learn that his knowledge of the Holy Qur’an has increased.
“He was telling about his life in Guantanamo. But I was not listening to that, instead I was praising and thanking Allah for bringing him back. I touched him every moment to make sure that he is still with me. I served him a cup of coffee and he told me that he had never tasted such a coffee after he left the Kingdom.”
Majed’s young sister, Dalal, was always beside him talking as she used to do before. Other sisters Raghad and Ameera seemed very happy to see their brother.
Majed’s mother thanked Saudi lawyers for their efforts to win the release of the prisoners. “I will continue to visit my son at Al-Hayer until his release and I will prepare his favorite macaroni dish.”
Abdul Rahman, the brother of Faisal Al-Nasser, said his bother had changed a lot since his arrest. “My mother started crying when she saw Faisal. He was 18 when he left and now at 24 he is much more diligent and mature,” he told Al-Madinah.
According to Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, this is the seventh group of detainees to be freed from the US prison camp.
He said the latest group had undergone medical checkups and would be tried according to the laws of the country. “If they are found innocent at the trial, they will be released,” he said.
