After More Than 6 Years, Al Jazeera Cameraman Sami al-Haj Released From Guantanamo Bay

Al Jazeera cameraman Sami Al-Haj has been released from Guantanamo Bay and arrived in his home town of Khartoum, Sudan early this morning. He was detained in Guantanamo for nearly six and a half years without a trial or any charges. He was arrested in Pakistan, in December 2001 while traveling to Afghanistan for work with Al Jazeera, then transferred to US custody, and six months later, taken to Guantanamo Bay.

Today he was flown into Sudan on a US military aircraft along with two other Sudanese men formerly imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay. They told Al-Jazeera they were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained to their seats during the flight home.

The only statement from the United States came from the embassy in Khartoum confirming the “detainee transfer.” A senior defence official in Washington, DC told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that Al-Haj was “not being released” but “being transferred to the Sudanese government.” But the Sudanese Justice Minister told Al Jazeera Al-Haj would not face arrest or any charges.

Al-Haj who has been on a hunger strike since January of 2007 was taken to a hospital immediately after landing in Khartoum. After a tearful reunion with his family he spoke out against the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay in an interview broadcast on Al-Jazeera.

Sami al-Haj, Speaking from his hospital bed in Khartoum, Sudan.

Asim Al-Haj, Brother of Sami al-Haj.

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