Two Malaysian men detained for 18 years at the United States’ Guantanamo Bay military prison have been repatriated to Malaysia, according to the country’s state news agency. Inspector General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed that Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep arrived on Wednesday night in good health and have reunited with their families.
The two had pleaded guilty to involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed over 200 people. They will now undergo a thorough rehabilitation and assessment process to prepare for reintegration into society. “Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Razarudin.
The US Pentagon stated that both men had cooperated during their detention, providing critical testimony against Encep Nurjaman, also known as Hambali, the alleged mastermind of the Bali bombing. Hambali remains in Guantanamo, awaiting pre-trial hearings set for January regarding the Bali attack and a 2003 hotel bombing in Jakarta.
Earlier this week, the US Department of Defense repatriated Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu, a Kenyan man held for 17 years without charges, to Kenya. This leaves 15 detainees in Guantanamo who have been cleared for release but remain in custody. Amnesty International described these continued detentions as a violation of human rights, urging President Joe Biden to transfer the remaining detainees before his term ends.
Established after the September 11 attacks, Guantanamo Bay once held nearly 800 detainees under the US’s “war on terror.” Many were captured globally and subjected to harsh interrogation methods in CIA “black sites” before being transferred to the prison. Amnesty International has criticized the facility as a “longstanding stain” on the United States’ human rights record.
