JEDDAH, 7 October 2007 — Saudi Arabia yesterday announced a series of programs for the rehabilitation of 55 Saudis who have returned from the US prison on the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Prince Naif ordered the release of the Guantanamo returnees on bail to help them celebrate Eid Al-Fitr with their families, after paying them SR10,000 each as Eid gifts.
“The amount was given to the prisoners before their release,” a security source said.
Twenty-seven prisoners — who were never charged in US court for any crimes and subsequently released to Saudi authorities by the US military — were released before Ramadan while 16 others were set free last Tuesday. The remaining 12 will be released within the next few days.
Prince Muhammad ibn Naif, assistant minister of interior for security affairs, has promised Guantanamo returnees that he would meet their marriage expenditures.
The royal gesture covers all Saudi returnees who intend to marry. He will pay for the dowry, furnishing of houses, purchasing of cars and house rents.
Prince Muhammad, who has played a significant role in the release of Saudi prisoners in Guantanamo, has already expressed his readiness to take part in their marriage ceremonies if they do not clash with his official schedules.
The ministry source said some of these prisoners would face trial after Eid on the basis of the Kingdom’s regulations.
“The prisoners were released on bail on condition that they return to the prison on Oct. 20, 2007 when government employees return to work after Eid Al-Fitr holidays,” the source said.
He commended returnees’ cooperation with the ministry’s program for their reform and rehabilitation.
“It was this cooperation that encouraged the ministry to set them free for Eid Al-Fitr,” he said.
The ministry has shifted 16 returnees from Al-Haer Prison in Riyadh that belongs to the Investigation Department to a rest house in order to help them attend rehabilitation programs.
The families of the returning prisoners have expressed their thanks and appreciation to the efforts exerted by the government, especially the Interior Ministry to win the release of their sons from Guantanamo.
The official said the ministry was continuing its efforts to win the release of the remaining 37 Saudis in Guantanamo.
Mufleh Al-Qahtani, vice president of the National Human Rights Society, underscored the endeavors made by the Interior Ministry to get the release of Guantanamo prisoners and rehabilitate them.
He said an association panel had visited some of the detainees at Al-Haer Prison and found that they were given good care and treatment. He refuted American claims that Saudis were mistreated after returning to the Kingdom. “Our meeting with Saudi Guantanamo returnees has proved that these are false allegations,” he said.
