Saudi Arabia frees Guantanamo transferees for Eid holiday News
Saudi Arabia frees Guantanamo transferees for Eid holiday

[JURIST] Saudi Arabian Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz [WS profile] announced Saturday that 55 Saudi prisoners recently transferred from Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] back to their home country will be given a temporary release and stipend of $2,600 to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr [RF backgrounder]. The release will coincide with the start of the holiday around October 13. After the holiday detainees will face trials in Saudi courts.

The US Department of Defense released 16 Saudi detainees in September [JURIST report], adding to transfers made in July [JURIST report] and February [JURIST report]. These releases come in the wake of Saudi Arabia's request last July [JURIST report] to have all Saudi detainees returned home. Three Saudi detainees have so far committed suicide at the camp. AP has more. From Saudi Arabia, Okaz has local coverage, in Arabic.